JS >^R''.\VvvV i u.tiV 











LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap........ Copyright 

Shcir. — 3 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 





























































































































































































4 
















































* 


■* 


* 







. 








•%* . 

















































CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN 




The Light of the World 


Or the Bible Illuminated and explained 

. . . BY . . . / 

IAN MACLAREN (REV. JOHN WATSON, D. D.) 


Author of “ Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush,” and other moral stories 



J« WILLIAM BUEL, Ph. D. 

Author of “ Story of Man,” etc. 


A COMPLETE STORY OF BIBLE HISTORY THAT 
NARRATES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT 
ALL THE TEACHINGS AND EVENTS RECORDED 
IN SCRIPTURE, FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION 


Told in familiar style for the easy understanding and helpful 
encouragement of all who appreciate God’s promises and mercy to 
His children. Removing all doubt by explaining every obscure 
passage, that the reader may be thoroughly enlightened and 
interest thereby be inspired in a study of the Holy Book. 


SPLENDIDLY ILLUMINATED WITH NEARLY 500 ORIGINAL DRAW- 
1NGS BY THE BEST ARTISTS IN EUROPE AND AMERICA 

e: } o> J c 

JOHN C. WINSTON & CO. 


PHILADELPHIA 


CHICAGO 


TORONTO 


V, 


TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 


Library of Congress* 
Office o f the 

DEG 12 1899 

Register of Copyright*. 


"BS b"s-o 

w^- 

I 


\ 


fgr 

& 

$ 

m 


48700 


jr 

& 


Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1899, by 
W. E. SCULL, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


ALL K1GHTS RESERVED. 



# 

W 

Oft 

© 

© 

$ 

$ 


SECOND COPY, 

li * 


5~tot tSb 
9e^. IS- ''b'3 


MlAtSi. ft ■?; S'], 

6 lh^ tJ 


Behold, I Stand at the Door 



ID YOU ever stand upon the top of a great mountain just before the breaking 
of the day ? Do you remember how you watched for the intimation of the Dawn? 
How you stood almost breathless as the first grey streaks shot up the sky, and 
then the purple, and after that the rolling waves of light until your enraptured 
soul praised the Almighty Creator as you ga^ed upon the beauty and magnificence of all His 
works amid the glories of the Golden Morning ? 

As your guide who had led you to this lofty height pointed out new beauties, or called 
your attention to familiar objects seen now in a light you had never known before, you felt 
as though you were treading paths of glory fit for an angel’s feet, 
and scanning the vastness and magnificence of a scene which the 
eyes of the Infinite could alone comprehend. As you looked upon 


Canst Thou Set the 
Dominions Thereof ? 


these wonders your happy heart turned toward the Great Father of all, and you sang with 
the Psalmist: 


“ The Heavens declare the glory of God 
And the firmament sheweth His handiwork. 
Day unto day utter eth speech, 

And night unto night sheweth knowledge. 
There is no speech nor language ; 

Their voice cannot he heard, 

Their line is gone out through all the earth, 
And their words to the end of the world.” 


Never can you forget the vast panorama stretched before your eyes. You thanked God, 
you thanked your guide that you had lived to see that day and were led to the contemplation of 
a vision which lifted you upon a higher plane of thought and life. 

In afar higher, broader sense there is such a vision before you now. Higher, because in 
this Light of the World to which it is my privilege to guide you, you will see not only mountain 
and valley , sea and sky, dew-drop and ocean, glittering gem and shining sun, but you will see 
by whom and how they were made. Broader, because you will see beyond the beautiful horizon 
to the other shores, where marching to the song of Cherubim and Seraphim, with harpers harp- 
ing on their harps, King David in the lead, you will see that mighty throng which no man can 
number who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Higher 
and broader because you will see the King in His glory, and find, if you will, the path to the 

throne; the path of the just, growing brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. 

(iii) 



Truly can we say “ We are journeying to ihe land of which the Lord hath said ‘ I will 
give it thee, come thou with us and we will do thee good / " The child just starting on life's 
journey will find here a path for its little feet, while fruits and flowers 
will delight and sustain its tender form. Old age will get strength 
and joy as leaning upon the strong arm of the Eternal One the fading 
eyes will catch a glimpse of the glory land. Here youth and manhood will find work and 
thought and inspiration. 

This splendid volume, like the glorious Book whose story it tells, holds within its leaves 
the healing power because it unfolds the mysteries of saving grace. No home is safe without 
that Book of Books, the Bible, and with that thought in view it is the purpose of this work to 
open all the windows, roll back the clouds, move every object out of the way, and let the whole 
family, from father down to baby, see the Bible from Genesis to Revelation as no human eyes 
have ever beheld it before. 

To do this it has been necessary not only to write in simplest, plainest, yet most carefully 
chosen words, the whole story, but to expend large sums of money to have prepared a set of 

pictures and illustrations the like of which has never before keen 

produced. The nature of pictures in conveying truths is as old as 
the dawning intellect of the human race, and every Master among 
Teachers or Public Speakers has been a Master of Illustration. 

The greatest Picture Maker and Teacher of all history, secular or sacred, was Jesus 

Himself. He knew what was in man. He spoke as never man spoke. He taught as one 

having authority, and not as the scribes. Children sat upon His knee, great philosophers 
bowed at His feet, and multitudes thronged around Him to hear what He would say. His 
almost every utterance was a Picture. 

The publishers of this most instructive book have caught the idea. Regardless of cost 
or labor they have prepared hundreds of original pictures, not simply for page adornment , but 
they have set them as windows in the dwelling, through which the eager soul may get new 
views of earth and sky and Heaven. 

The Minister of the Gospel, and every public speaker, indeed , has noticed that long after 
his words have been forgotten his audience has remembered some picture, even homely it may 
have been, used to enforce a thought. This is perhaps the brightest age in all the history 
of man , more inventions , more books, more great schemes . more 
progress, more business. In fact, expansion every way, everywhere. 
What is it in these days that catches the public eye ? The Picture, 
emphatically the Picture ! Whether we turn to the advertisement on the boards, the magazine, 
the weekly or daily newspaper , it is the picture everywhere that tells. 

In the pages before us you will find pictures of the highest and purest type, both in con- 
ception and execution. Take every word of print away, leave only the pictures, and still you 

will have a book which every member of the household, young and old, will peruse with intense 

(iv) 


Upon all Pleasant 
Pictures 


Apples of Gold in 
Pictures of Silver 


His Ways are Ways 
of Pleasantness 



delight and ever-increasing profit. It is food for mind and soul, and you cannot even turn 
these pages with your eyes open and go away unblest. 

Life is a great battle. The hosts of good and evil cease not the conflict day nor night. 
The insidious foe is not content to marshal his forces in the broad open field and invite us to 
the contest, but he hides along the way, lies in ambush, creeps into our homes, yea, our very 
hearts : 

“ For of all the foes we meet, 
hi one so oft mislead our feet, 

None so oft betray to sin 
As the foes that dwell within .” 

Ponder, if you please, the enemies of our homes. Let me mention only a few, and you 
will see that the most sacred spot on earth, the place nearest Heaven, where our hearts’ best 
affections are centered, our Home, is in daily danger not only of 
invasion but absolute destruction by the great enemy. To oppose 
these enemies the strongest fortification is the altar of prayer, the 
mightiest weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Pride is a great enemy to our homes. The wife or daughter sees a better house across 
the street, or finer dresses, or more handsome outfits next door. Pride says why can’t we have 
as good as these? Then debt comes, and discontent, and care, and ruin, and the home is 
gone. God’s word teaches Humility, the opposite of pride, and slays the enemy ere he enters 
our door. 

Gossip is another foe to the fireside. It comes with soft step and bated breath to tell 
some strange story about the wife, or husband, or other member of the family. And if there is 
the slightest jealousy in the heart, a fire is kindled which burns like the flames of the lost . 

“ Trifles light as air 

Are to the jealous, confirmations strong 
As proofs of holy writ.” 

And the wagging tongue of gossip has often robbed the home of happiness. Love, says the 
blessed Book, is the great law of home, and where love is, gossip like a fangless serpent may 
frighten but cannot harm. 

Strangely enough to say, but nevertheless it is true, that the great press of business is 
getting to be more and more an enemy of the home. A man is a stranger to his own children. 
A little girl was heard to ask, ff Brother, who is that pale man who kisses us early every morn- 
ing and we don’t see him any more till next day ? ” “ Why, that 

is papa, sister,” replied the little fellow. Another child, crying, ran 
to its mother, and was asked by her what was the matter. “ That 
man that boards here of a Sunday whipped me just now,” was the answer. It is well known 
that business cares often assail too much the peace of the domestic circle. What says the 
Word? “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and 
where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heayen.” 

(V) 


The Knowledge of Wis- 
dom Be Unto Thy Soul 


The Fear of the Lord 
is a Fountain of Life 


And what shall I say of the enemies that wait outside the Home ? The theatre, the 
club, the saloon, the card table, and many other nameless foes that not only wound and 
kill but 

“ IVeave the winding sheet of souls , 

And lay them in the arm of everlasting death.” 

To go forth warned is oftentimes to go armed, and many a young man and woman have been 
saved a life of shame and disgrace by going forth from the family circle blessed with the 
memories of a mother's teaching and the example of a pious father. 

It is the purpose of this precious volume to light up the home and to expose like a search- 
light every object, good or evil, which comes within the circuit of its hallowed influence. The 
mind, like the body, must have food, and unless it is provided with that which is wholesome, 
will sei^e upon the painted, poisonous trash which may be peddled 
around by every vender along the way of life. Here is a book, we 
modestly affirm, which stands on the side of God, and Home, and 
Right. You can trust it, for from foundation to capstone it is built of the material which comes 
from the quarries and forests of the Great Creator. Not only will it cheer and guard you in 
your life, but it will help you in your work. “ I must work the works of Him that sent me," 
said Jesus, while it is day." Yes, the night comes on. Whether you stand in the early 
dawn, or have passed the noontide, or are treading into the shadows of the evening, “ The 
night cometh.” Let us do our work, and do it well; do it. as He did His, for the good 
of man and the glory of God. This literary counsellor will help you in your work, and then 
when the night shall come it will be a night of pleasing retrospect, a night of rest, a night before 
the morning, the glorious Golden Morning of the eternal day. God bless the Reader, God bless 
the Book ; God bring us all home at last in Heaven. 

“ On the hanks beyond the river, 

We shall meet no more to sever, 

In the bright, the bright forever, 

In the summer land of song.” 


The Lips of Knowledge 
is a Precious Jewel 







OLD TESTAMENT. 

CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth.— The world as it must have 
appeared in its primal state — The Kingdom of heaven and the Seraphs — Inspired writers — 

The beginning of God’s labor of creating — The Garden of Eden — Adam and Eve — The tree 
of knowledge and of life— Temptation in the Garden — The first sin — Punishment of our 
first parents — Birth of Cain and Abel — The sacrifices in the field — “Am I my brother’s 
keeper?’’ — The first murder — Peopling the world — The growing wickedness of men — 

God’s anger is kindled — Noah commanded to build an ark — The deluge — Subsidence of 
the flood — Noah sets up an altar unto the Lord — The tower of Babel — Confusion of 
tongues 33-47 


CHAPTER II. 

And the Lord said u?ito Abraham , Get thee out oj thy Country. 

Abraham the Father of Israel. — Founding of a new nation — The journey from Ur to the land 
of Canaan — The great beauty of Sarah and what befel her — A plague upon the house of 
Pharaoh — Abraham and Lot separate — A battle with four kings of Canaan — Abraham’s 
valor rewarded by Melchizedek — God appears to Abraham in a vision— Sarah’s childless 

condition— The story of Hagar and Ishmael ...... 

(vii) 


48-55 


viii Contents. 

CHAPTER III. 

Behold, now , Thy servant hath found grace in Thy sight. 

Abraham Entertains Three Angels.— The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah — God did tempt 
Abraham — Commanded to offer up Isaac — A proof that God will provide — Abraham’s re- 
moval to Hebron — Death of Sarah and her burial in the cave of Machpelah — Abraham sends 
to Haran in quest of a wife for Isaac— His meeting with Rebekah — Abraham’s second 
marriage — Death of Abraham — The prosperity of Isaac — A covenant with Abimelech — Esau 
and Jacob — Isaac is troubled and stricken with blindness— Jacob deceives his father^Esau’s 
threat of revenge — Jacob’s wonderful dream— Jacob meets Rachel — His long service to 
Laban for Rachel— A search for the stolen images — Meeting with a host of angels — Jacob 
attempts to conciliate Esau He wrestles with an angel — Ordered to put away the strange 
gods — The abduction of Dinah — A massacre that Jacob deplored — The twelve tribes of 
Israel — Jacob behold’s another heavenly vision — Death of Rachel and Isaac 

CHAPTER IV. 

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. 

The Story of Joseph, Jacob’s Favorite Son. — He becomes a tale-bearer upon his brothers 
— Joseph seeks his brothers at Dothan — They conceive a plot to kill him — Persuaded by 
Reuben to cast him into a pit — Joseph is sold to Midianite merchants — The tale the 
brothers told their father— Jacob’s sorrow— Joseph tempted by Potiphar’s wife — Committed 
to prison — Joseph an interpreter of dreams — He is called to appear before Pharoah — 
Prophesy of seven years of plenty and seven of famine— Joseph is made prime minister 
of Egypt — He fills granaries and prepares against famine — Jacob sorely oppressed, sends 
his ten sons to Egypt for corn — Joseph, to test their faith, accuses his brothers of being 
spies — He casts them into prison — He holds Simeon and sends the others away — Discovery 
of the hidden money— The sons sent again into Egypt — Joseph weeps in secret upon 
seeing Benjamin - Story of the cup in Benjamin’s sack — Joseph reveals himself to his 
brothers — Sends for his father to come down and visit him — The great joy of Jacob — 
Jacob is brought before Pharaoh — Settlement in the land of Goshen — Jacob blesses 
Joseph’s children — Division of his possessions — Heads of the twelve tribes of Israel — 
Death of Jacob ... 

CHAPTER V. 

She called his name Moses . . because she drew him out of the water. 

Hoses the Greatest Character in Jewish History— Comparison with other great leaders — 
How the Jews came into Egypt — Cause of their ostracism — Efforts of Pharaoh to prevent 
the increase of Jews — Finding of the babe Moses— Adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter— 
Brought up at the King’s court -Moses slays an Egyptian— He flees into Arabia — His 
marriage to Jethro’s daughter— Miracle of the burning bush— Aaron called to be Moses’ 


PAGB 


56-78 


79-96 


Contents. 

assistant — Return of Moses to Egypt — He exhibits his power before Pharaoh — He asks 
permission for the Jew’s to go into the wilderness to make a feast— The plagues of Egypt 
—The Israelites depart out of the land — Pursued by Pharaoh’s army— Swallowed up by 
the sea — Wanderings of the Israelites— Miracle of bread from heaven — Singular facts 
about the manna — Another fall reported in 1899— Moses made a judge of his people — Es- 
tablishment of a judiciary — The ten commandments — The Ark of the Holy Covenant — 
Moses retires upon Mount Sinai — The Israelites become idolaters — Slaughter of the 
offenders — Moses talks with God 


CHAPTER VI. 

Ye shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My Sanctuary. 

Severity of the Levitical Laws — A census taken of the Israelites — The law against strong 
driuk — A flaming pillar goes before the Israelites — Starvation averted by a legion of 
quails — A land of giants and of great plenty — Spies sent into Canaan — The people 
threaten to stone Caleb and Joshua — God dooms the Israelites to wander forty years — 
Defeated by the Canaanites — Rebellion of the princes — The people incensed against 
Moses — A terrible earthquake of retribution — The rod of Jesse 

CHAPTER VII. 

And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 

Passage through the Wilderness of Sin — Moses and Aaron punished for their disobedience 
— Death of Aaron — Complainings of the people - A plague of flaming serpents — Defeat of 
the Amorites — Death of Og, the giant — The temptation of Balaam — He is arrested by an 
angel — Influences of sumptuous entertainment — Cupidity that made Balaam oppose God 
— The Israelites corrupted — A battle with the Midianites — Joshua becomes the successor 
of Moses— Moses’ last counsel to his people — Moses permitted to view the Holy Land — 
His death on Mount Pisgah 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Behold , the fear of the Lord , that is wisdom. 

The Story of Job’s Trials and Triumphs. — Various interpretations of the book of Job — Is it 
fact or allegory — Beautiful lessons inspiring to trustfulness in God— Who was Job ?— His 
great riches and righteousness— His first afflictions — The three complaining friends— 
Rebuked for finding fault with God— A burnt offering of bullocks— The most eloquent 
book of the Bible 


CHAPTER IX. 

The Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land. 

Joshua is Chosen to be the Leader of Israel.— Invasion of the land of Canaan— Preparations 
for an attack upon Jericho— Spies concealed in Rahab’s house— Their escape through her 


ix 

PAGE 


97-122 


I23-I36 


137-154 


T55-I63 


X 


Contents. 


strategy — Waters of the Jordan are divided— An angel stands before Joshua Capture and 
sack of Jericho — The Israelites defeated at Ai — A cry to the Lord for assistance The ston- 
ing of Acham — Joshua’s strategy — The king of Ai hanged — A league of Canaanitish kings 
— Strategy of the Gibeonites — The battle of Beth-Horon — Joshua’s conquest of Canaan 
Joshua’s last exhortation to his people, and his death 

CHAPTER X. 

Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites ? 

Effects of Joshua’s Victories on Israel as a Nation. — Portions of Palestine that remained to 
be subjugated — The Israelites defeated at Jericho and reduced to slavery — Assassination of 
King Eglon — Destruction of the tribe of Benjamin — A great sin that brought upon them 
the wrath of God —Israel again put to rout — Indignation of the eleven tribes — The great 
battle of Shiloh — Dreadful punishment of the Benjaminites — Seizure of the maidens of 
Shiloh — Sisera the Midianite general — Deborah leads the army of Israel — Jael kills Sisera 
in her tent 


CHAPTER XI. 

The Lord is with thee , thou mighty man of valor. 

The God of Baal Again Set Up by the Israelites. — They are delivered into the hands of the 
Midianites — Gideon called to the command of the Israelites — God appears to him in a 
dream — Miracle of the fleece — A mighty power is God’s help — Three hundred courageous 
men chosen — Defeat of tlie Midianites by a strategy — Gideon aspires to be king — Abimelech 
murders his brothers — Gideon executes a terrible vengeance — Abimelech killed by a 
woman — The character of Jephthah — Jephthah’s rash vow — A rebellion punished .... 

CHAPTER XII. 

And the woman . . called his name Samson . . and the Lord blessed him. 

Why Scriptural History is not Consecutive.— Separation of the Jewish tribes — An angel 
appears to Manoah — Birth of Samson — He is raised up to deliver Israel — He destroys a 
lion — Riddle of the lion’s carcass — Samson’s exploit with the jawbone of an ass — He 
carries off the gates of a city — The secret of his strength discovered — Samson perishes 
in the falling temple — The story of Naomi and Ruth — A famine causes the removal of 
Elimelech — Parting from friends — The fidelity of Ruth — Naomi sends Ruth to glean in 
the field — She finds favor in the eyes of Boaz — A strange custom among the Israelites — 
Boaz espouses Ruth — She becomes mother of Obed, the progenitor of Christ 

CHAPTER XIII. 

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 

First and Greatest of the Prophets.— Prayer of Hannah in the tabernacle— Birth of Samuel— 
He is called to prophesy — The ark captured by Philistines— Eli dies through an accident 
— Disaster follows possession of the ark— The ark is returned to the Israelites— Punishment 


PAGE 


l64-l87 


188-202 


203-2 l8 


219-236 


Contents. 


xi 


* PAGE 

for profaning the ark — Samuel is made judge of Israel — The Israelites demand a king — 
Samuel’s counsel against a kingdom — Saul sent in search of escaped she-asses — He is 
directed to a prophet’s house — Samuel anoints Saul king of Israel — He is reluctant to 
serve — Chosen because of his great stature — David the sweet harpist — Interruptions in the 
chronology of Bible events — The army of Israel confronts their enemies — Goliath, the 
giant of Gath — David offers to fight the giant — Goliath makes sport of the stripling — 

David’s great victory 237-269 


CHAPTER XIV. 

And Saul set David over the men of war. 

1 

David’s Valor Endears Him to Saul. — The people praise David and Saul’s jealousy is thus 
aroused — David’s marriage to Saul’s daughter — Saul’s second attempt to kill David — Saul 
falls at the feet of Samuel — David in Exile — He eats of the shew-bread — David arms him- 
self with the sword of Goliath — Saul renews the hunt for David — David refuses to avenge 
himself on Saul — David cuts a piece from Saul’s cloak — Israel mourns the death of Samuel 
— David smitten by the beauty of Abigail — He again spares Saul’s life — Saul moved by 
David’s magnanimity — The sin and deception of David — Attempts to rid the country of 
Soothsayers — Saul consults the witch of Endor — The spirit of Samuel appears to Saul — 

David driven from the Philistine camp — The death of Saul — His head cut off and hung 

on the wall 271-296 

CHAPTER XV. 

And they anointed David King over Israel. 

Internecine Wars for the Kingdom of Israel. — David is proclaimed King — Abner espouses 
the cause of Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son — The most fearful duel of history — Joab a mighty 
soldier — The treacherous murder of Abner — The assassination of Ish-bosheth — David 
accepted as ruler of united Israel — Assembling the army of Israel — David lays siege to 
Jerusalem — The extraordinary valor of Joab — Rebuilding of Jerusalem — David commits a 
great sin — The Philistines war again with David — David brings up the ark to Jerusalem — 

Uzza stricken dead for touching the ark — David prosecutes a war for spoils — Terrible 
defeat of Hadadezer — David adopts Jonathan’s son — War with the Ammonites — David’s 
greatest iniquity — Complete overthrow of the Ammonites — Nathan condemns David in a 
parable — Nathan’s prophecy of punishment — Death of David’s ill-begotten child — David 
annihilates the Ammonites — Amnon conceives a passion for Tamar — Absalom’s vengeance 
upon his brother — The remarkable beauty of Absalom — David reconciled to his son — 
Absalom’s ambition to be king— He raises a large army— Openly rebels against David and 
seeks his life — Death of Absalom — David’s lament — An uprising of Benjaininites — Battles 
with Philistine giants — Duels to decide issues of war— David is punished for numbering 
the people— Permitted to choose one of three kinds of punishment 297-338 


Xll 


Contents. 


chapter xvi. 

Then David said , This is the house of the Lord God. 

David Proposes to Build a Temple. — Mount Moriah chosen for a site — The incredible wealth of 
David — Solomon chosen to succeed David — Adonijah’s ambition to rule — David’s last 
charge to Solomon — God’s greatest gift to Solomon — Solomon causes Adonijah and Joab 
to be slain — A contested child restored to its mother — The wisdom of Solomon — Building 
the Temple — Arrangement and magnitude of the Temple and Tabernacle — The splendid 
ceremonies of dedication — Manifestation of the Lord’s presence — The sublime prayer of 
Solomon — Building of the king’s palace— Grandeur of the throne-room — Solomon visited 
by the Queen of Sheba — He abandons God and bows down to idols — The Kingdom of 
Israel divided — The death of Solomon . 


CHAPTER XVII. 

And the King answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel . 

Solomon Leaves a Disrupted Kingdom to Rehoboam. — Jeroboam becomes a rival for the 
throne — Jeroboam punished for idolatry — His arm is paralyzed — Jadon destroyed by a 
lion — Rehoboam follows in the footsteps of Solomon — Capture of Jerusalem by Shishak — 
Death of Rehoboam — The downfall of Jeroboam— A slaughter of 500,000 men — Asa’s 
great victory over the Egyptians — Baasha’s war with Asa — Zimri perishes in his palace — 
Ahab’s wicked reign — The mystic groves of Ashtaroth — The miracles of Elijah — Elijah 
shows his power before Ahab — Death of the priests of Baal — Elijah is persecuted by 
Jezebel — He flees to Beersheba — Ahab has Naboth stoned — Ahab’s grief for his crime — 
Benhadad, Syria’s insolent king— Ahab defeats the Syrians — Jehoshaphat, King of 
Jerusalem — Ahab tries to avoid his predicted fate — He is encouraged by false prophets — 
Ahab killed by an accident — God performs a miracle in behalf of Jehoshaphat — Jehosa- 
phat’s prayer in the temple — A righteous man to his death 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

The Iniquities of Israel’s Rulers. — Perversity that cannot be understood — The wickedness of 
Ahaziah — He appeals to the God of flies — His messengers met bj r Elijah — They are 
destroyed by fire — Ahaziah’s short reign — Elijah forewarned of his death — Translated to 
heaven in a chariot of fire — Elisha succeeds him as a prophet— Railers torn by bears — 
Jehoram joins Jehoshaphat against the Moabites — The Moabites overcome by a strategy — 
A princeling offered as a sacrifice to Moloch — Elisha and the widow’s cruise of oil — A 
dead child restored to life — Miracle of the poisonous berries— Naaman the leper is healed 
— Gehazi the dishonest servant — A school for prophets established — Benhadad tries to 
capture Elisha — The siege of Samaria — Miraculous termination of the famine — The 
Shunamite woman warned of another famine — -Jehu anointed King of Judah — He 
punishes the witchcrafts of Jezebel — The terrible death of Jezebel —Destruction of the 


PAGE 


339-358 


359-392 


Contents. 


xm 


worshipers of Baal— The youngest King of Israel— A dead body brought to life by 
touching the bones of Elisha — Amaziah one of the wise Kings of Israel — Jeroboam’s 
prosperous reign— The Assyrian invasion— Ahaz buys the help of Tiglath-pileser— The 
idolatrous iniquities of Ahaz 393-428 


CHAPTER XIX. 


Now the Word of the Lord came unto Jonah. 

Jonah’s Mission to the Assyrian King, in Nineveh. — Condition of Assyria at the time of 
Jonah’s visit— His aversion to making the trip He starts for Tarshish— God offended by 
his disobedience — Jonah’s vessel overtaken by a great storm — He requests the endangered 
sailors to cast him into the sea — He is swallowed by a large fish — Vomited upon the 
shore, he now goes to Nineveh — He converts the King and people — Jonah displeased 
with God because Nineveh is spared — The miraculous gourd vine — Jonah convinced of 
God’s goodness 4 2 9~433 


4<T£ 


CHAPTER XX 


They carried away a great multitude captive and brought them to Damascus. 


God Punishes the Offending Israelites by Delivering Them into Captivity.— The remark- 
able perverseness of this people — Hoshea chosen king of Judah— Horrible practices of 
the Israelites. — Shalmaneser invades Israel — Carries away the people of Samaria — 
Termination of the kingdom of Israel — Hezekiah the good king — Eions sent to destroy 
idolaters — Destruction of Sennacherib’s army — Hezekiah miraculously cured — He 
boasts of his great riches — Warned by Isaiah that his vanity will be punished — Capture 
and restoration of Manasseh — He repairs the walls of Jerusalem — Atnon murdered, 

Josiah becomes king — Prophecy of captivity — Josiah executes vengeance upon the false 
prophets — Josiah is slain in battle — Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar — 
Jeremiah threatened for prophesying evil— The brief and sad rule of Jehoiachim — 
Jeremiah counsels Zedekiah against impiety — Jeremiah cast into prison —Capture and 
pillage of Jerusalem— Zedekiah has his eyes put out— The murder of Gedaliah— Nebu- 
chadnezzar makes himself king of the earth . 434-460 


CHAPTER XXL 

Dayiiel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

The Jewish Captivity in Babylon. — Some of the people especially favored by Nebuchadnezzar 
— A descrepancy between the Scripture record and Josephus — The four sons of Zedekiah 
—Daniel nourished by spiritual food— He has the gift of interpreting dreams— Nebuchad- 
nezzar worried by a dream -Daniel is sent for by the king— He explains the meaning of 
the sleep vision - Predictions of the coming of Christ— Daniel exalted as a god— Nebuchad- 
nezzar has a second dream — Daniel commanded to speak freely to the king— The dream 


XIV 


Contents. 


interpreted— Nebuchadnezzar stricken with insanity — Successors of the kingdom — 
Belshazzar’s feast — The handwriting on the wall — Capture of Babylon — Proclamation 
against prayer — Daniel is cast into a den of lions — He is miraculously preserved from 
harm — His prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem — Daniel beholds the Messiah in a vision 
— The Jews benefited by their capitivity — Cyrus orders a rebuilding of the Temple at 
Jerusalem — Return of the Jews from captivity — They reject the proffered help of Samari- 
tans — Completion of the Temple — Ezra goes to Jerusalem — Divorce of wives taken from 
among heathen people 


CHAPTER XXII. 

For she had neither jather nor mother , and the maid was fair aitd beautiful. 

The Story of how Esther Saved Her People from Hassacre. — The splendid feast of 
Ahasuerus in the palace at Shushan — Queen Vashti similarly entertains her guests — A ban- 
quet of drunkenness and shame — Ahasuerus extols the beauty of Vashti — Commands that 
she expose herself to the princes — The punishment of her refusal — The king divorces her 
and seeks another wife — Esther, the beautiful Jewess, chosen — A plot to murder the king 
— Haman’s perfidious counsel — Recommends that the Jews be massacred— Esther takes 
means to save her people — Protection of the king’s person — Esther appears before her 
royal husband — Haman elated with promise of his success — Preparations to hang Mordecai 
— The gallows set up — Esther exposes the iniquity of Haman — How the decree of Haman 
was nullified — Haman hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai — The Jews receive 
special favors from Ahasuerus — Mordecai’ s triumphal ride 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

v v .^KV .\f ♦ . . • \ ‘ Si&'i 

Send me unto fudah , unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres , that I may build it. 

Sad Condition of the Jews. — Nehemiah’s lament over the situation in Jerusalem — The King 
gives nim a cheerful answer — A conspiracy of the Ammonites and Moabites — Watching 
for the enemy — The Jews taxed to impoverishment — Nehemiah’s earnestness and liber- 
ality — Celebrating the restoration of Jerusalem — A day holy to Jehovah — Dedication 6f 
the walls — Nehemiah the last of the prophets 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

The four hundred years oj Apocrypha History. 

The Apocrypha, its Books and Significance.— Disputes of religious writers— Profane history 
fills the interval — Israel after Nehemiah’s death — The Jews are divided — Building of the 
second Temple — Alexander invests Jerusalem — Impressive appearance of Joddua, the high- 
priest — Alexander persuaded to spare Jerusalem — the rival temple on Mount Gerizim — 
Capture of Jerusalem by Ptolemy — Decisive battle of Ipsus- Calamities follow the death 
of Simon — Belief of the Sadducees — Eleazar and the Septuagint — Egypt Hellenized — 
Ptolemy profanes the Temple — He is driven from the Holy of Holies — Antiochus predicts 
his own death — A conspiracy to rifle the Temple treasury — Heliodorus scourged by an 


PAGE 


461-489 


490-508 


509-519 


Contents . 


xv 


angel— His life spared through prayer— Antiochus the mad king- The murder of Onias— 
Antiochus captures Jerusalem — Dreadful persecution of the Jews— Sacrifices to Baal made 
obligatory — Punishments of a mother and seven sons — An extraordinary example of faith 
and heroism — Maccabeus and his valiant sons— Judas Maccabeus succeeds his father— The 
second victory of Beth-horon— A furious attack upon the Syrians — Victory gives the Jews 
courage — An immense army sent against the Jews - Eleazar’s heroic death —Alexander the 
horrible— A crucifixion of his enemies — Observance of the Sabbath causes a great defeat 
— Herod made governor of Galilee— Mark Anthony and Cleopatra— The great sea fight 
off Actium — Suicide of Cleopatra— A slaughter of Jerusalem’s inhabitants — Savage amuse- 
ments inaugurated by Herod — The dreadful end of Herod 


NEW TESTAMENT. 

CHAPTER I. 

The Mighty God , the Everlasting Father , the Prince of Peace. 

In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of fieri. — The mercy of God endureth forever — 

The vicarious sacrifice — Important incidents during the rulership of Herod — Inflexible 
tyrant and criminal at heart — Prophesies that a Messiah shall appear — How Herod 
received the news of a Saviour born — Zacharias, favored servant of God — The priestly 
service in the Temple — An angel appears to Zacharias — Prophesy of a son to be born to 
Elizabeth — Zacharias stricken dumb — Gabriel appears also to Mary— Miracle of the Holy 
Ghost at the Annunciation — The birth of John — Marriage of Joseph and Mary — The visit 
to Jerusalem — Birth of our Saviour — The cave habitations about Bethlehem — Different 
opinions of the time of the Birth — Angels bear the glad tidings — Appearance of the Holy 
Babe in the temple — Simeon’s propTiesies — Visit of the Magians —Herod’s fears that a new 
King of the Jews has been born —He seeks the young Child’s life — He orders a massacre 
of all male infants— The flight into Egypt — Death of Herod and return of 
Joseph to Palestine— Jesus lives in obscurity for twelve years — How He spent 
His youth — The wickedness of Nazareth — The child Jesus is found disputing 
with the doctors — The plain of Esdraelon — The inspiring surroundings of Christ’s 
boyhood — John’s life in the wilderness — Condition of the people in Judah when 
John came preaching — Beginning of the Gospel — Warning a generation of vipers — 

Great multitudes are converted by his teaching— Jesus is baptized by John — A double 
sign of Christ’s Messiahship— Forty-day fast in the wilderness — Tempted by Satan — John 
declares Jesus is the Messiah that was to come — Jesus begins to preach — The first miracle 
— The marriage feast in Cana 537 - 574 


XVI 


Contents . 


CHAPTER II. 


Jesus went about teaching and heating all manner of disease. 


PAGE 


Jesus Begins His Public Ministry. — He attends the Feast of the Passover— Appearance of 
Jerusalem on the great feast day — The temple on Mount Moriah — Profanation of the 
sacred edifice by tradesmen — Jesus scourges the merchants — He answers questions with 
mysterious sayings —Many converted by His teachings — Nicodeinus has explained to Him 
the spiritual birth — First declaration of His real mission on earth — Nicodemus manifests 
his faith in Jesus to vhe end — Prejudice of the Priests —Jesus baptizes in the Jordan — 

John accuses Herod Antipas and is imprisoned — He is beheaded by request of Salome — 

Jesus bears testimony to John's character and faithfulness — Jesus driven from Judea 
journeys to Galilee — The vale of Shechem and its historic places — Jesus discourses with a 
woman of Samaria — Living waters — Parable of the seasons — A prophet without honor in 
his own country — A nobleman beseeches Christ to heal his son — Jesus returns to Nazareth 
and preaches in the synagogue — The people offended because He would do no miracle 
— He escapes their anger by suddenly disappearing 575 ~ 59 2 


CHAPTER III. 

I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also. 

Christ Continues His Hinistry in Galilee. — Beautiful lake Tiberias — Besieged by multitudes 
Jesus preaches from a boat —Miracle of the great draught of fishes — The sons of Zebedee 
behold the wonder and become His disciples — Jesus is interrupted by a madman while 
preaching in Capernaum — He restores the lunatic’s reason — “ Who is this that casts out 
devils?” — He cures the mother of Simon’s wife — A host of invalids healed by His touch — 

His ministry throughout Galilee — Leprosy the most terrible of human ills — A leper 
restored — Gracious ministrations to the suffering — A palsied man, lowered through the 
housetop, healed — Levi called to be a disciple — He eateth with publicans ! — The Son of 
Man is Lord of the Sabbath — The man with a withered hand — The austerities of the 
Jewish laws — Remarkable customs — Why Jesus became an object of hatred to the 
Pharisees .... 593-606 


CHAPTER IV. 

Now there is at Jerusalem , by the sheep market , a pool. 

Jesus Repairs to the Pool of Bethesda. — Waters that were troubled by an angel’s touch— A 
cripple in the house of mercy — Thirty-eight years paralyzed, yet healed in an instant — 

Jesus announces a new law — The apostles chosen — Jesus instructs them in the new 
dispensation — How to produce fruits meet for repentance — Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God and thy neighbor as thyself — The wise and the foolish builders — A centurion asks 
for his servant the favor of Christ — Jesus resurrects a widow’s dead son — A Magdalene 
wipes the feet of Jesus with her hair — He rebukes Simon by an apt illustration— Jesus 
adopts an objective style of preaching— He delivers to a vast concourse the parable of the 
sower — Jesus calms the tempest— Carest thou not that we perish ?— Devils cast out of two 
lunatics— The cave-dwellers of Gilead — Purifying the woman with a bloody issue — The 
raising of Jairus’ daughter . . . # 607-622 


Contents . 
chapter v. 

He spake many things unto them in parables. 

The riaster of Parables. — The great fascination of Jesus’ speech — Sermonizing with wonder- 
fully impressive illustrations — Human experience made a vehicle for teaching moral 
lessons — The physical life subordinate to the spiritual— The habits of daily living - Sacred 
mysteries of the soul — The true vine and the living bread — Face to face with eternal 
truths — The passage from reason to illustration — Powerful influence of the story — Unfold- 
ment of a panorama of life— Human character exposed in the parable of the sower — The 
pearl of great price — Parable of the missing sheep — The lost piece of silver— The churlish 
rich man — The importunate widow — Tares in the midst of the wheat— The Judgment Day 
— The unjust steward — Lesson of the ironical parable— The mustard seed — Parable of the 
marriage feast — A prophecy and vision of glory .... 


CHAPTER VI. 

And He called the twelve, and sent them forth two by two. 

Jesus Sent His Disciples to Preach the Gospel. — Herod believes Jesus to be the risen John — 
Miraculous feast of the multitude — The people would make Jesus king— Jesus walks on 
the sea — The true bread of life — The people mystified by His declarations — A conspiracy 
at the Passover — Jesus predicts His own death and resurrection — The transfiguration of 
Jesus — The disciples rebuked for their lack of faith— Jesus restores a lunatic Who is 
greatest in the Kingdom of God ? — Parable of the generous king Healing of ten lepers — 
Jesus discourses of spiritual life — Parable of the good Samaritan Martha and Mary — Our 
Lord’s prayer— The Pharisees attempt to entrap Jesus — Let him who is without sin cast 
the first stone — Sight restored to a blind man — The critics confounded by a beggar — 
Parable of the good shepherd — “Our brother Lazarus is ill” — “ Thy brother shall rise 
again ” “ Lazarus, come forth! ” — A conspiracy to kill Jesus — He escapes to the wilder- 

ness — Parable of the great supper — Parable of the prodigal son — Fatherly love recognizes 
the beggarly child Rejoice with me that my son is alive” — The jealous brother — 
Intense selfishness of the Pharisees -Parable of the rich man and Lazarus — Reward of 
the righteous — The Pharisee and Publican —The rich young man — Blessing the little 
children— Parable of the laborers 


CHAPTER VII. 

This day is salvation come to this house. 

Zaccheus Acknowledges Christ. — “ Thy faith hath made thee whole ” — Jesus laments the fate 
of Jerusalem — Parable of the vineyard — Parable of the wedding feast — The poor widow’s 
mite — Destruction of the Temple foretold — Parable of the ten virgins — Parable of the 
talents— Designs against our Lord’s life — Betrayed by Judas— The last supper — A sin- 
offering for all people — Peter refuses to be made the object of Christ’s condescension— Christ 
teaches humility — Love one another— The Passion in the garden -Jesus taken captive — 
Peter denies his Lord 


xvii 


PAGE 


623-636 


637-678 


679-7OO 


xviii Contents . 

CHAPTER VIII. 

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 

The Trial of Jesus for Blasphemy. — “Tell us if Thou be the Christ [’’—Jesus taken before 
Pilate — Pilate tries to save Jesus — “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” the cry — Pilate 
intimidated by the mob — Tortured with a crown of thorns — The remorse and suicide of 
Judas — Story of the great tragedy — Where the crucifixion took place — The exquisite 
torment on the cross — The thief’s penitence — The last moments of Christ’s agony — Awful 
portents following the tragedy — “ A bone of Him shall not be broken ” — The funeral of 
our Lord 

CHAPTER IX. 

Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. 

The Resurrection of Jesus. — An angel breaks the seal of the sepulchre — Visit of the two 
Marys to the tomb — They behold an angel sitting at the end of the grave — “ Rejoice ye, 
for it is I! '* — Effects of the report that Jesus is risen — Jesus walks with two of His 
disciples — Discovers Himself to His companions — “ Peace be unto you!” — Christ removes 
the doubt of Thomas — Miraculous draught of fishes — Jesus delivers His last discourse — 
The ascension of Jesus. 


CHAPTER X. 

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, as of fire. 

The Disciples Await a Manifestation of the Holy Ghost. — A successor to Judas chosen — The 

gift of many tongues -First miracle of John and Peter — The trial of the apostles — 

Punishment of Ananias and Saphira — The miracles of Peter — The wise counsel of 

Gamaliel — Seven deacons chosen to distribute alms— Stephen is stoned to death — Saul the 

bitter persecuter — Conversion of the Eunuch — The wonderful conversion of St. Paul — 

Ananias sent to restore Saul’s sight — The Jews seek to' kill Paul — The resurrection of 

Dorcas — Baptism of Cornelius — Peter’s vision — Peter cast into prison — An angel delivers 

him — Peter appears at the house of Rhoda — Paul is called to Antioch — A false prophet 

struck blind— Paul and Barnabas are driven from Antioch — Paul cures a lame man — Paul 
. -/ 
stoned by a mob 

CHAPTER XI. 

We believe that through the grace of the Lord we shall be saved. 

The Second Missionary Journey of Paul. — An angel calls to Paul to go into Macedonia — Paul 
and Silas scourged — An earthquake strikes off their shackles — The people again threaten 
Paul — Paul teaches in Athens — The unknown God of the Athenians — Paul is apprehended 
again at Corinth — An evil spirit punishes imposter Jews — The worship of Diana — A mob 
goes crying through Ephesus— A young man’s life is restored — Paul exhorts the church 
elders — A parting of the disciples — Paul permitted to address the people — They again try 
to stone Paul — The trial of Paul — He is favored by Felix and Festus — Paul with other 
prisoners sent to Rome — The shipwreck — Last days of Paul — A terrible conflagration in 
Rome — Torture and massacre of Christians — Visions of St. John— The heavenly city 
revealed 


PAGE 


701-7 14 


715-726 


727-754 


755-779 



PAGE 


Frontispiece — The Creation and Garden of 
Eden. 

Ornamental headpiece 33 

Cain rose up against Abel and slew him. . 39 

And all the high hills were covered 40 

Adam and Eve lamenting the death of Abel 41 

Every living substance was destroyed 43 

Mount Ararat 45 

He sent forth a dove 46 

Noah builded an altar unto the Lord 49 

The flight of Lot 50 

Abraham 51 

And Hagar departed 53 

She sat over against him and wept 53 

Abraham offering up Isaac 58 

Rebekah and Isaac 62 

Jacob deceiving Isaac 66 

And he dreamed and behold a ladder 69 

Behold I am with thee 70 

Jacob wrestling with the angel 73 

And Esau ran to meet him 75 

And Isaac gave up the ghost 76 

Laban searching for the stolen images 77 

Jacob departed with his family 78 

Joseph sold by his brethren 81 

Joseph interpreting the butler’s dream. ... 82 

Joseph the governor over all the land. ..... 85 

Egyptian ring money 86 

Chariots and inspector of standing corn. . . 87 

A branch of myrrh 88 

He fell upon Benjamin’s neck and wept. . . 90 

Joseph presenting his father to Pharaoh. . . 92 

Meeting of Jacob and Joseph 94 

The bones of Joseph . . . buried they 

in Shechem 96 

Egyptian column 98 

Kiosk, or bed of Pharaoh 99 

Finding of Moses 100 

Moses defending the daughters of Jethro. . 101 

Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh 102 

Papyrus shoes, sandals, and instruments.. 103 

Preparing a sacrifice 104 

Ramesis II. holding table of offerings 105 

The Egyptians pursued, and went in after 

them 107 

Moses stretched forth his hand 109 

The Lord went before them ... in a 

pillar of fire Ill 

Menephtliah II 112 

View from the desert of Shur 114 

Moses in the mountain 115 


Mount Sinai H* 

Thou slialt set the table without the vail. . 119 
Moses called Aaron and his sons together. . 121 

Aaron in robes . 124 

He gave unto Moses . . • t w0 tables of 

testimony 125 


PAGE 


Moses sent them to spy out the land 127 

Proclamation to the people 129 

Fashioning the furniture for the tabernacle 130 

They beat the gold into thin plates 131 

For his offering two turtledoves 132 

His offering a kid of the goats 133 

Setting up the Tabernacle 134 

Aaron and his sons preparing a burnt sacri- 
fice 135 

Fire shall ever be burning upon the altar. . 136 
Which when all the people saw, they 

shouted ¥ . . . 138 

Abide at the door of the Tabernacle day 

and night 139 

And the priest shall look on him 141 

The sin of Nadab and Abihu 143 

The Angel of the Lord . . . stood in a 

narrow place 144 

The walls of Jerusalem as they appear to- 
day 145 

Beth-Horon, looking towards the Mediter- 
ranean 147 

Make thee a fiery serpent and set it up. . . . 148 

I will give you rain in due season 149 

I will make your cities waste 150 

A drought in the Jordan valley 151 

If we commune with thee wilt thou be 

grieved? 152 

Job rent his mantle and fell down 153 

Out of the whirlwind 156 

Then came unto him all his brethren 157 

How long will ye vex my soul? 159 

I am young and ye are very old 160 

They sent forth their little ones 161 

She dwelleth on the rock 162 

The rich man shall lie down 163 

Moses spoke unto all Israel 165 

The wilderness of Judea 166 

A branch with one cluster of grapes 167 

Get thee up into Pisgah 168 

Slaying the Paschal Lamb 169 

The offering of the prince 170 

The earth opened and swallowed them .... 171 

Behold the rod of Aaron budded 173 

He smote the rock twice 174 

Hid them with stalks of flax 175 

She let them down by a cord 176 

The congregation stoned him 177 

Captain of the host of the Lord am 1 179 

Joshua sent men from Jericho 180 

The sun stood still 181 

Joshua stretched out the spear 182 

Villages which have no wall 184 

They blew the trumpets 185 

The scapegoat 186 

A brook at the base of Mount Ephraim. . . . 187 
The wilderness of Sinai 189 


ix) 


XX 


Illustrations. 


PAGE I 

Put out of camp every leper 190 

The children of Israel made them dens. . . . 191 
Thy sword hath made women childless. . . . 193 

There came an angel of the Lord 195 

Jael went out to meet Sisera 196 

He blew a trumpet in the mountain 197 

Thou hast given me a south land 199 

Then sang Deborah and Barak 201 

He laid his hands upon him 202 

Lifted up their voice, and wept 204 

Blow the trumpet in the new moon 207 

Abimelech assumes the crown 209 ! 

God shall root thee out of the land 211 j 

Jephthah is chosen to rule 213 J 

Give, I pray you, loaves of bread 214 j 

See, there come people! 215 

Daughters of Israel went yearly to lament. 217 

His daughter came out to meet him 220 

The angel of the Lord ascended 221 

He rent him as he would a kid 222 j 

He bowed himself with all his might 224 j 

Took the doors of the gate of the city 225 j 

But the Philistines took him 226 ! 

Samson 229 i 

Entreat me not to leave thee 230 

They lifted up their voice and wept 231 

Abide here fast by my maidens 232 

The children of Benjamin took them wives 233 ' 

Whither thou goest, I will go 234 

He measured six measures of barley 235 j 

My soul doth magnify the Lord 238 i 

Eli sat by a post of the Temple 239 

Dagon was fallen upon his face 240 ' 

To burn incense before me • . . . 241 j 

Here am 1 242 I 

His heart trembled for the ark 243 j 

The Levites took down the ark 245 

The men of Israel went out of Mizpeh. .. . 246 

Behold, a company of prophets 248 

Thou hast kept the commandment 249 

Then Samuel took a vial of oil 251 

David played with his hand 253 

David stood on top of a hill 254 

Jonathan shot an arrow 256 

I saw gods ascending out of the earth 258 

David sparing Saul 260 

The Lord sent thunder and rain 262 

Cast in thy lot among us 264 

A wise man scaleth the city 266 

He choose him five smooth stones 267 

David ran and cut off his head 267 

Behold, he keepeth the sheep 268 

The Tower of David 269 

All the kings of the earth sought the pres- 
ence of Solomon 270 

I will deliver thine enemy 272 

Saul hath slain his thousands 273 

They anointed David king 274 

David sent Abner away 275 

They brought the head of Ish-bosheth 276 

Shew forth thy faithfulness 278 

Shall my prayer prevent thee? 279 

Thou shalt surely die 281 

In the wilderness of Maon 283 

She fell before David 285 

Abigail sends wine to David 286 


PAGE 


He held a feast in his house 287 

He sent of the spoils to the elders 290 

Princes of the Philistines were wroth 292 

City of En-gannim 294 

Death of Saul 295 

He fell likewise upon his sword 296 

Three mighty men brake through 298 

I will bring evil upon thee 300 

Thou shalt not come off that bed 302 

Jonathan slew him 304 

The Syrians became David’s servants 306 

The Lord smote him 309 

Michal saw King David dancing 311 

Uriah the Hittite died also 314 

King David did dedicate unto the Lord. . . . 316 

Thou art the man! 318 

Amasa went to assemble the men 319 

There was a famine 321 

The king kissed Absalom 322 

He cast stones at David 323 

Thrust them through the heart of Absalom 325 

The tomb of Absalom 327 

Bay of Zidon 329 

Take and offer what seemetli good 331 

The kingdom of David and Solomon 332 

The angel stood by the threshing floor 333 

These likewise cast lots 334 

The house must be exceeding magnificat . . . 336 

The king said, number the people 337 

The people offered willingly 340 

He garnished the house with precious 

stones 342 

Who should prophesy with harps 343 

We will cut wood out of Lebanon 345 

In the plain did the king cast them 347 

His mercy endureth forever 349 

The fire came down from heaven 350 

He charged Solomon his son 352 

King Solomon made a navy 353 

The Queen of Sheba came to prove Solo- 
mon 354 

Solomon brought up the daughter of Pha- 
raoh 356 

All the elders of Israel came 358 

He forsook the counsel of the old men. .. . 360 

The Hagarites were delivered 364 

Ye shall not go up 366 

He removed her from being queen 367 

They taught in Judah 369 

Judah fell before the Lord 370 

The ravens brought him bread 372 

Go and do as thou hast said 373 

He smote the waters 375 

There ariseth a little cloud 376 

Elijah took the child 377 

The prophet that is in Samaria 378 

The Angel said, arise and eat 379 

Men of Belial witnessed against him 381 

The King of Israel was passing 382 

Deliver the captives again 385 

Levites arose and blessed the people 386 

They broke down the altars 387 

I am sore wounded 389 

Shaphan read it before the king 391 

Whose merchants are princes 392 

Amaziah fled to Lachish 394 


Illustrations . 


xxi 


PAGE 


The leprosy rose up in his forehead 395 

The fire of the Lord fell 397 

Put thine hand upon the bow 399 

I will chastise you with scorpions 401 

A wall fell upon twenty and seven thou- 
sand 403 

Go turn again to the king 407 

There was a famine in Samaria 408 

These lepers went into one tent 410 

She went forth to cry unto the king 413 

Hezekiah shewed them all the house 414 

All the vessels that were made for Baal. . . 416 

Told him the words of Rabshakeh 417 

Athaliah rent her clothes 418 

Hear me, my brethren 421 

He brought the shadow backwards 422 

They brought out the king’s son 424 

All the people cast into the chest 426 

He rent Israel from the house of David.. . 428 
They took up Jonah and cast him forth. . . . 430 

Jonah upon the dry land 431 

Jonah began to enter into the city 432 

So Israel was carried away 436 

Map of Israel and Judah 437 

All the people came to Egypt 438 

Sent unto him to inquire of the wonder. . . 439 

Isaiah prayed and cried to heaven 440 

The pool of Hezekiah 441 

The vale of Shechem 443 

Such as are for the captivity 444 

Brought him up to the king of Babylon. . . . 445 

His sons smote him with the sword 447 

Sennacherib entered into Judah 448 

Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem. . 449 

The day of the Lord’s vengeance 450 

Hezekiah spread it before the Lord 451 

I will bring a nation upon you 452 

A people cometh from the north 453 

Let them make haste 454 

Then shalt thou break the bottle 455 

Then took they Jeremiah 456 | 

Thine house shall go into captivity 457 

Woe be unto thee, O Moab! 459 

Babylon is suddenly fallen 462 

These were of the children of Judah 464 

There is none other that can shew it 465 

This is the interpretation, O King 466 

The king made Daniel a great man 468 

Walking in the midst of the fire 469 

I lifted up mine eyes to heaven 471 

Belshazzar made a great feast 472 

His chamber towards Jerusalem 475 

There fell a voice from heaven 476 

The man Gabriel touched me 478 

These things shall be finished 480 

I lifted up my eyes and looked 481 

Darius made a decree 483 

Ezra before the house of God 484 

He made a proclamation 485 

The priests in their apparel with trumpets. 486 

Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem 488 

Return of the holy ark to Jerusalem 489 

Memucan answered before the king 491 

Vashti made a feast for the women 492 

Fair young virgins sought for the king. . . . 493 
But Mordecai bowed not 494 


PAGE 

The king held out to Esther the sceptre. . . . 495 
Let it be written that they be destroyed . . . 497 

The king made a great feast 499 

Think not thou shalt escape 500 

What wilt thou, Queen Esther V 501 

All the king’s servants bowed 503 

He gave him a copy of the decree 504 

Mordecai rent his clothes 505 

They call these days Purim 505 

Hainan was fallen upon the bed 50T 

The captivity 510* 

If it please the king 511 

Eliashib the high priest rose up 513- 

Ye see the distress we are in 514 

Some of the chiefs of the fathers 515 

Let us rise up and build 516 

The porters and the signers appointed. .. . 517 

What evil thing is this ye do? 519 

The siege of Tyre 521 

Jaddua, whom God hath sent 523 

Forging weapons for the defence 524 

Chariot of Alexander the Horrible 527 

Slaughter of the Maccabeans 528 

The desolation of Judah 530 

Dead bodies lay like a wall 532 

Octavianus reads the will 533 

Marianne given poison 535 

Out of Egypt have I called my son 536 


NEW TESTAMENT. 


Frontispiece — Parables of our Lord. 

Ornamental head piece 537 

The Light of the World 538 

A view of Bethany 539 

The annunciation 541 

They found the babe lying in a manger. . . . 542 

She brought forth her first born 544 

The holy families of Jesus and John 545 

I Site of the angel’s appearance 546 

They saw the star and rejoiced 547 

A view of Bethlehem 548 

The dream of Mary 549 

Church of the Annunciation at Nazareth. . . 550 

The annunciation to the shepherds 551 

There came wise men from the east 552 

The sign of the cross 553 

Then took He them up in His arms 556 

The birth of our Saviour 557 

He departed by night into Egypt 558 

Then Herod sent forth and slew all the 

male children 559 

Joseph and the Child Jesus 560 

They found Him in the Temple 561 

Nazareth from Annunciation Church 563 

Thy father and I have sought thee 565 

This is my beloved Son 566 

The wise men guided by the star 566 

After three days they found Him in the 

Temple 567 

The town of Nazareth 568 

Get thee behind me, Satan. 570 

Bethlehem, with convent in front 571 

The sea from Tiberias 572 

Behold the Lamb of God 573. 


XXII 


Illustrations. 


PAGE 


John, calling two disciples, sent them to 

Jesus 577 

An old mosque in Tiberias 579 

A view of Jerusalem 580 

John before Herod 582 

There cometli a woman of Samaria 584 

Jacob’s Well as it now appears 580 

Whosoever drinketli of this water 587 

The approach to Nazareth 592 

He went into a ship and sat 594 

He fell down at Jesus’ knees 595 

Simon and Andrew casting their net 590 

Traditional house of Simon, the tanner. . . . 598 

Betliesda Pool 000 

Rise, take up thy bed and walk 000 

Cana and the hills of Galilee 002 

The pool of Siloam 003 

The village of Siloam. 005 

Healing every sickness among the people. . 009 

Go ye into the world and preach 010 

The golden text 010 

Young man, I say unto thee, arise 013 

Some seeds fell by the wayside 014 

Some fell upon stony places 014 

Some fell among thorns 010 

Some fell into good ground 010 

He opened his mouth and taught them .... 018 

0 Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets 020 

Damsel, I say unto thee, arise 021 

The younger son wasted his substance. .. . 024 

Behold, a sower went forth to sow 025 

Set not your heart upon riches 027 

He layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. . . . G28 

Avenge me mine adversaries 029 

The wicked have robbed me 030 

Give them according to their deeds 031 

The rich man died and was buried 034 

Parables of our Lord 030 

They need not depart, give them to eat. . . . 038 

Besought him to cast forth the devil 040 

She threw in two mites 041 

She had a sister called Mary 643 

A certain Samaritan saw him 644 

Jesus was transfigured 640 

1 have brought unto Thee my son 649 

Suffer little children to come unto me 651 

To whom ye forgive, I forgive also 653 

What profit a man if he gain the whole 

world 654 

Mary also sat at Jesus’ feet 656 

Falling down on his face. , 658 

He that is without sin among ye 659 

Peace be to this house 661 

If a man have a hundred sheep 663 

Thou should see the glory of God 665 

Is it lawful for you to scourge a man?. . . . 607 

A woman which had an infirmity 669 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. .. . 6 7 0 
His father saw him and had compassion. . 671 

Sent him into his fields to feed swine 671 

The beggar died 672 

What must I do to be saved? 675 

Didst thou not agree with me for a penny? 677 

He climbed up into*a sycamore 680 

He led him out of the town 681 


PAGE 


He sent unto them his son 683 

Bind him hand and foot 685 

Behold, the bridegroom cometh 680 

Lord, open unto us 687 

He which had received the one talent 688 

Well done, thou faithful servant 689 

He came to Jesus and kissed Him 691 

He cried, Lord, save me! 693 

He began to wash the disciples’ feet 694 

There appeared an angel from heaven.... 695 

This cup is the new testament o96 

Why sleep ye? rise and pray! 698 

He went out and wept bitterly 699 

Behold the man! 704 

The w T ay of the cross 706 

He bearing His cross, went forth 707 

They crucified Him • 708 

That disciple took her unto his own home. 710 
The earth did quake, and the rocks rent. . . 712 

There laid they Jesus 713 

This man went unto Pilate and begged the 

body of Jesus 714 

The angel rolled back the stone 714 

They saw a young man sitting on the side. 719 

He took bread and blessed it 721 

Bring of the fish ye have caught 723 

While they beheld, He was taken up 725 

To God ... be glory through Jesus. . 726 
There appeared unto them tongues of fire. . 728 

Seeking some one to lead him 729 

Why do ye these things? 730 

Join thyself to this chariot 731 

The tomb of Dorcas 732 

Go, stand and speak in the temple 733 

Peter went with them into the upper 

chamber 734 

I am he w’hom ye seek 736 

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge 739 

The iron gate opened to them 741 

Some cried one thing, some another 742 

Brought their books and burned them.... 743 

The travels of St. Paul. (Map) 744 

Oftentimes I purposed to come unto you. . 746 

He shook off the beast into the fire 747 

Paul received all that came unto him .... 748 
I commend unto you Phebe, our sister. .. . 749 

Dare any of you go to law? 751 

They which run in a race 752 

Both hunger and thirst 753 

| Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill. 754 

I I have fought with beasts 756 

Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ 757 

Stand fast in the faith 759 

Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill 761 

I would to God all were such as I am .... 763 

Tribute to whom tribute is due 765 

i For this cause I left thee in Crete 767 

In a basket was I let down 769 

Paul writing to the Galatians 771 

Some on broken pieces of the ship 772 

Strangers and pilgrims on the earth 773 

Let him eschew evil and do good 775 

For thy sake we are killed 776 

The day of judgment 778 

To worship before the feet of the angel. ... 7'<9 


INTRODUCTION 

THE BIBLE— THE BOOK OF BOOKS 


BY 



IAN MACLAREN (REV. JOHN WATSON, D. D.) 

HE sacred writings of our religion are called with 
much felicity the Book, because the Bible, while it 
is the noblest literature, stands apart from all other 
books in its lonely dignity, and because its supreme 
position grows stronger every year. No book has 
ever been subjected to such tests or has been the 
victim of such misfortunes, none has ever been so attacked 
and none has ever been so misrepresented. The storms 
which have raged round the Bible have been a tribute to 
its greatness, for nothing which is helpless creates an enemy; nothing is 
fought for which is not dear. Because the Bible has been the ground 
of faith and the treasure of the heart, therefore men have trembled at 
every criticism upon it and have been ready to lose hope when the Bible 
for a moment was eclipsed. It has been in the furnace through all the 
ages, since the days of Jesus, and the fire has never taken hold upon 
even its garments, and to-day the Bible is more authoritative and more 
invulnerable than it has ever been in all its majestic history. 

What panics have befallen the lovers of the Bible and how unreason- 
able — as we now see — were their fears! Geology was supposed to have 
invalidated the Book of Genesis, and foolish people trembled 
lest they should lose the charter of their salvation, and then B °b,^ r itictem. 
it was discovered that the Bible did not set itself to teach 
geology, but religion. If you want to know about the strata of the earth, 
you must purchase a scientific text book, if you want to know about the 

(xxiii) 


XXIV 


Introduction. 


soul, turn to Holy Scripture. Christians again possessed their souls in 
patience and the Bible went on its way rejoicing. When Mr. Darwin 
laid down the principle of evolution, with much ingenuity and a rare 
wealth of illustration, believing people were in a terrible state, for now 
indeed it appeared as if the Creator himself had been dismissed and the 
soul had been denied. Innumerable sermons were preached against this 
revolutionary idea, and a man who held it was treated as an infidel. By 
and by the smoke was blown from the battlefield and it became plain that 
evolution was simply a method of creation and was quite consistent with 
a creative mind and an immortal soul. There was after all no contra- 
diction between the Bible history of creation and the speculations of 
natural science, for the former were from a spiritual standpoint, and the 
latter from a physical. The Bible had come out of the controversy with- 
out the slightest hurt, although some of its defenders had been a good 
deal hurt, and Mr. Huxley went about everywhere bearing testimony to 
the spiritual worth of the Bible. Within quite recent days a 
an you urms new literary science, biblical criticism, arose and has been 
doing its work upon the Bible, and again good people upon 
every side lost their heads. Biblical criticism has not yet finished its 
examination of the Bible, but, already, it has proved a friend and not a 
foe. We now see that criticism cannot touch the spiritual message which 
is the soul of the Book, but that criticism can explain its form, reprinting, 
as it were, and rebinding, and re-editing the Bible, so that we have all that 
we had before, with this advantage, that the eternal truth is set in the 
light of accurate history and human experience. When the critics have 
finished with the Bible the Book is more interesting, more intelligible, 
more human, and more living than ever. 

Perhaps the severest trial through which the Bible has passed befell 
the Book in its youth, and befalls it still after all these centuries. It is 
regarding the Bible as a book of theology under a strange 
form, and so interpreting it that every incident shall yield a 

interpretations > J 

of zealots. doctrine and every hero of Israel shall be an accurate type 
of Christ. Passages have been tortured and turned upside 
down, and have had unnatural and childish meanings thrust upon them. 


Introduction . 


xxv 


All forsooth that the Bible should be redeemed and made, as if against its 
will, into a thoroughly religious book. Had any other book been inter- 
preted as the Bible has been it would have disappeared amidst inex- 
tinguishable laughter, but the Bible has survived the allegories of the 
Fathers and the fantastic expositions of modern mystics. Perhaps it 
should be added that it has also endured the stupidity of many 
preachers and the strange experiments of amateur theologians. From 
all the mists which gather round its base, its head rises into the light, 
serene and untouched. 

What must strike everyone is the amazing and enduring vitality of 
the Book ; while other books come and go, the favorites of one age, the 

despised of the next, this Book remains from century to century with 

* 

only this difference, that it is ever taking a stronger hold of the 
conscience and mind of our race. If to-day it is translated into so many 
languages, to-morrow it will be translated into so many more. 

If , its circulation to-day be the highest reached in its history, ©^"he^bie 
its circulation next year will again break the record. There 
is no language of the civilized world in which it cannot be read; there is no 
language of barbarism into which it will not be cast. It maintains the 
standard of dignity in the Anglo-Saxon’s speech; it has preserved from 
oblivion the dead dialects of savages. Its imagery has been woven into the 
masterpieces of English literature and its beautiful tales have been the 
first lessons of childhood ; while the peasants of the fields and the 
working men of the city strengthen themselves with its terse and telling 
words. Scholars spend their lifetime in weighing the meaning of its 
words; artists obtain their name in illustrating its pages and travelers 
ransack the East to verify its truthfulness. So strong is the spring of 
life in this Book, that even if a dull man writes upon it, his words will 
catch something of its beauty, and if a man of genius sets himself to 
expound it, his writings will almost share its own immortality. If an 
enemy attacks the Bible, the Book not only bids him defiance, but it 
will take a charitable revenge upon him and his name will be preserved 
because of his attack. Within the Bible, as it were within a Pantheon, 
are preserved the names of those who have loved the Book and made it 


XXVI 


Introduction . 


known so that they are held in tender and everlasting remembrance, and 
on the outside of the Book, as it were upon the arch of triumph, are 
engraven the names of those who have hated it and whom it has brought 
to confusion. Civilizations rise and fall, empires are created 
T c h/ za t i o r\ an< ^ destroyed, and human life in its countless generations 

comes and goes. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; 
but the word of our God shall stand forever.” 

When one seeks for the qualities which have given this Book its 
perennial freshness, then one may at once mention its humanity , for 
among all books that ever has been written, it is the most intensely and 
richly human. Had one of us been asked to guess what manner of 
book God would give to be the revelation of Himself, and the Sacred 
Scriptures of the supreme religion, we should have hazarded various 
ideas, but we should always have gone astray. We should have expected 
that God would have given us from heaven a hand-book of doctrine with one 
chapter on the Trinity, and another on Sin, and another on the Atone- 
ment, and another on the Future Life, and each chapter a complete 
exposition of the truth. There would also have been an appendix on 
Morality, giving us rules for daily life — what we were to say, and what 
we were to do, and where we were to go. I know that this is what we 
should have imagined, for these are our standard books of religion ; and 
to-day the Bible is an absolute contrast to our Creeds and 
Confessions. One opens the Bible — this message from God 
— and he finds, what ? There is the emigration of Abra- 
ham, as when the Pilgrim Fathers went out to a new world, and the love- 
story of Isaac, as you might read it in a present day romance, and the 
fraud of Jacob, as you could find it in any law court the whole world 
over. Joseph is, long ago, the youth who goes from the country to the 
city, poor and friendless, and rises to high estate, while Moses remains for- 
ever the type of the patriot who sacrificed his high position and easy circum- 
stances to serve the common people. The departure of the Hebrews from 
Israel is the successful insurrection of a slave people and the conquest of 
Canaan, the replacement of a corrupt order by a rougher, purer nation which 
has constantly been repeated in human history. The Book of Judges is the 


A contrast with 
creeds. 


Introduction. 


battle of the clans, out of whose rivalries and conflicts a kingdom will yet arise. 
David is the hero of romance who makes a new departure in his national 
history, and founds a royal house, like James I. of Scotland, teaching his 
people manners and arts. Solomon in his worldly cleverness and dissolute 
life was the Charles II. of the day. In the kingdom of Samaria when 
Jezebel reigned and Elijah fought with her for the nation, you have the 
situation of Mary, Queen of Scots, and John Knox. The prophets 
discussed the expediency of foreign alliances and satirized the habits of 
the higher classes, and defended the rights of the poor and sketched the 
program of the future, like patriotic writers of later days. You have an 
able usurper, like Jeroboam, who rises from being a peasant 
to marry a princess of the house of Egypt and to establish Strangc B,blc 

characters. 

a dynasty. You have a foolish prince, like Absalom, who 
came to his doom at the hands of a stronger man, as did the ill-fated 
Duke of Rothesay, in the Fair Maid of Perth. You have a stainless 
Prince Arthur in Jonathan, Saul’s faithful son and David’s tender friend; 
and you have the brutal, hard driving soldier, in Jehu, the son of Nimshi. 
With the records of war mingled gentler tales ; how Ruth left her country 
and her people and became a mother in Israel; how that fierce Elijah 
supported a mother and her child in a cottage of Sarepta and restored the 
son to his mother ; how the little lad Samuel lived with old Eli in the 
Tabernacle of God and heard the divine voice ; and how Hosea through 
the unfaithfulness of his wife, and the shame on his name, entered into 
the heart of God, against whom Israel had sinned grievously. 

Jesus was, without doubt, the Son of God and the Saviour of the 
world, but how did He carry Himself in His life between Bethlehem and 
Calvary ? As a boy He was lost in the Temple because He wanted to 
ask questions of the wise men whom He saw, as boys in all ages have 
wished to do. If the heavens opened over His head and 
the spirit descended upon Him like a dove, yet immediately 
after He went to a marriage feast and gave them wine to 
make glad their hearts. One day He might put the Pharisees to confu- 
sion by His searching words, but another He was watching the children 
at their play. Sometimes He was preaching with great authority on the 


Familiar talks 
of Jesus. 


Introduction. 


xxviii 

mountain side, but other times He was holding young children in His 
arms. Through His early manhood He worked in a carpenter’s shop 
and His ministry He discharged in Galilee wandering along the high- 
ways, sitting in simple folks’ cottages, speaking from a boat or sitting at 
publicans’ feasts. His very discourses take you by surprise and at the 
same time win your heart, because they are not laden with doctrines of 
the school, and are innocent of learned phrases. Our Master talks of 
fields and vineyards, of fishermen and laborers, of rich men who gave 
their feasts and of poor women who baked their bread. He loved to 
tell stories, to throw out proverbs, to ask questions which made 
people think, to do acts of kindness. Unto this day His words are 
the despair of theologians, because the}^ cannot be made to fit into any 
system, and His life is an offence to Pharisees, because it is so free 
and joyful. 

The early history of the Church remains the romance of missions, 
and is the record of St. Paul’s adventures. His conversion from Judaism 
to Christianity, his controversies with the Jews in every 
ThC paui° f ^ s y na &°g ue > his P er ils by land as he went over the moun- 
tains of Asia Minor, his shipwreck in the Mediterranean, 
his arrests by the Romans, his escapes, the plots against his life and 
their confusion, his journey to Rome, and his acquittal on his first trial 
make delightful reading which stirs the blood and quickens the imagina- 
tion. St. Paul was a theologian as became a man of his family and 
training, and in certain of his letters one has the nearest approach to our 
idea of a religious book which you can find in the Bible. But ever and 
again there appears a human touch. He will give us suddenly a chapter 
in his past history, or tell us of a secret sorrow, or break out on an 
enemy of the gospel, or send a tender message to a friend. The personal 
element in his writing, next to his love to Jesus, contribute their charm, 
and Paul, the prisoner of Christ and the friend of Luke, who sent the 
greeting at the end of the Roman letter and the perfect Epistle to Philemon, 
is dearer to one’s heart than the scholar and the divine. And the Book 
which began with the poem of creation closes with the poem of regenera- 
tion, and the reader who was beguiled into the Garden of Eden in its first 


Introduction . 


xxix 


The most liberal 
of Books. 


stages is left in its last, with the vision of a city whose streets are of gold 
and its gates one pearl. 

The next engaging quality in the Bible is its liberality , and in this 
respect it far exceeds the Church or the mind of good people, because 
within the Church there is room only for certain kinds, but in the Bible 
there is a welcome for all kinds. It is indeed between Genesis and Revela- 
tion the broadest Book that could be imagined and is con- 
structed so that wherever a man stands he may be able to step 
into the Bible and whatever a man desires he will find there. 

If it be a boy given to games and pirate tales — a human in fact in an 
elementary stage, and little better than a savage — let him read Judges 
and the wars of the Jews, and if they afford not enough battles and blood- 
shed he must be hard to please. If it be an aged saint who is stepping 
westward and is being weaned from this present world, who already sees 
the Delectable mountains and is waiting for the message from the King, 
has he not the Psalms and St. John’s Gospel to be his stay and comfort till 
he crosses the river? It is folly to expect a healthy minded boy to appreciate 
the Psalms and one would have grave suspicions of him if he found a home 
in the Epistle to the Romans, and why should a man in the Sabbath of his 
days irritate his soul with the wars of those bloody old fighters in the iron 
age of Israel or the sacrifices of the Jews ? For young and old alike there 
is their portion in the Book. 

Or take another distinction in human life and experience. Suppose 
one be an unflinching believer and desires to know the mysteries of God, 
let him betake himself to St. Paul and he will find there 
depths beyond his standing and mighty floods of speculation 
that will go over his head. Suppose he have no faith at 
all except that there is a God and some moral order in the universe, 
then he is little better than an agnostic and it might seem as if there 
was nothing in common between him and the Bible, yet the Bible has 
pity on this man whose heart is often sore and bitter and has a whole book 
written for him alone. The ancient Church was very doubtful whether 
Ecclesiastes should be included in the canon of Holy Scripture and 
I am not surprised, for it is a cynical and worldly book. It is the 


XXX 


Introduction. 


Wit and wisdom 
of the Bible. 


production of a man who had drunk the cup of this world’s pleasures to 
the dregs and had found them turned to wormwood, whom both man and 
woman had played false and who doubted whether God Himself be true. 
We had been apt to censure and condemn him, but the Bible allows him 
to express himself till he has said all that is in his heart, and the 
heart knoweth its own bitterness, so that a skeptical man of the world 
may find his voice within this book, because he also is a son, even 
although he may have played the fool in the far country, and his unbelief 
is simply the sickness for home. When a man is in the thick of life 
and busy with many things, the proverbs of Solomon and 
the ever shrewd sayings of the Old Testament will not come 
amiss to him, for indeed anything cleverer he cannot find 
in all his monthly magazines and business manuals ; and he had better 
also read the Ten Commandments of Moses and the Sermon on the Mount, 
and the practical exhortations of St. Paul when the apostle emerges from 
doctrine, and the Epistle of St. James. This is sound diet for the soul 
of a man who is buying and selling and planning and building, for so 
he will be moved to industry and saved from trickery and kept in the 
paths of righteousness and peace. But if a man be young and full of 
sentiment, and if it be springtime with him and God has granted to him 
the prize of a woman’s love, why let him take the Song of Solomon which 
was written by a cleaner and higher mind than Solomon’s, and was indeed 
the scathing satire of Solomon’s evil life. Was ever love-song so skillfully 
conceived, and so perfectly executed in all its parts, to celebrate the tempta- 
tion and the faithfulness and the sufferings and the victory 
of true love ? Theology has no place for human love and 
religion has given it the go-by, but without doubt it is the 
master-passion of life, besides which learning and forms are less than 
nothing and vanity. And the Bible gives full recognition to the 
romance of love, from the days when Jacob served for Rachel a double por- 
tion of years and counted the time nothing for her sake, on to the day when 
the Church of Christ is described as a bride adorned for her husband. As 
in the shadow of some greenwood, beside an English village, old folk waiting 
quietly for the close of life watch the children playing by their side and 


The romance 
of love. 


Introduction. 


XXXI 


men discussing business catch sight of lovers among the trees, in this book 
all sorts of people and people in all their moods, meet and are satisfied. 

A third quality which goes to the strength of the Bible is its honesty , 
and this is unflinching and unreserved. From beginning to end of the 
Bible nothing is written to order, but everything is set down without regard 
to consequences. Abraham’s falsehood as well as Abraham’s faith, Jacob’s 
treachery to his brother as well as his passionate longing for God, Isaac’s 
feebleness as well as Isaac’s affection, Moses’ hot temper as well as Moses’ 
patriotism, David’s sensuality as well as David’s spirituality, St. John’s 
uncharitableness, who would have burned a village if he could, and St. 
John’s love, who was called the Beloved Disciple ; St. Peter’s cowardice, 
who denied his Lord at the threat of a servant girl, as well as his bold- 
ness, who charged the Jews with Christ’s death on the Day of Pentecost, 
are faithfully recorded in this uncompromising book of The book of 
religious biography. The patriarchs were no doubt pioneers religious 
of faith, but a wise man would think twice before he took b '°g ra P h y- 
their word in a bargain. The judges were first-rate fighting men, but 
they had not learned the meaning of mercy. The first Christians were 
ready to lay down their lives for Christ, but they treated St. Paul with 
insolent ingratitude. Were it proposed to write the life of a modern saint 
with the same frankness, then his family would intervene — it would be 
difficult to find so bold a biographer. According to our ideas the good 
only in a man’s life should be told, and the evil he has done should be 
buried, not only for the sake of his memory but for the sake of religion, 
which, it is understood, could not bear the shock. 

Perhaps in the first instance religion might suffer when we learn that 
our patriots also played tricks at the time and our apostles were not always 
brave, but certainly the lives of the moderns are at this dis- 

r , , Reflections of 

advantage compared with the lives of the ancients ; that we our fra!lties 
have our suspicions of the former counting them to be doc- 
tored and imcomplete books while we believe the Bible through and through 
and out and out. Amid the frailties of his own life one also has a very 
human satisfaction in closing some memoirs in which the subject never 
seems to have a single fault or felt the force of a single passion, and to turn 


XXX11 


Introduction. 


to the Bible when on every hand we meet men of like passions with our- 
selves and who have had a hard fight before they came to perfection. 

If this fearless honesty has laid the Bible open to criticism at the 
hands of its enemies, it also affords the means of turning that very criti- 
cism into a weapon of defence. It is startling at first to find men doing the 
things which are assigned to the Bible worthies of the Old Testament 
and it seems fair to denounce the Bible as a book of defective immorality. 
One is not surprised that unscrupulous opponents should say that it 
condones the breach of all the commandments, and that if people lived 
to-day as its heroes lived in their day they would be cast out of society. 
It is however this very candor of the Bible which reminds us that 
morality has been a gradual growth and could be nothing else, which 
shows that from the beginning to the end of the long period which the 
Bible covers there has been a gradual and steady advance from stage to 
stage and that God’s people, Israel, were being educated as no other 
people of their day. Morality is like geology in this respect, that it has 
many strata ; and owing to the frankness of the Bible we can trace their 
order and know how the race has come to its present conscience and life. 

When any objector to Bible morality takes up his parable, 
whether it be the slaughter of the Canaan ites or barbarity 
of Elijah, then one does not deny the history, but one simply 
asks the date. So many centuries before Christ ! Could you expect any- 
thing better and would you have believed the Bible if Joshua had been 
made to say, “love your enemies,” and Elijah had commended the 
prophets of Baal to the hospitality of his friends? Is it not enough to show 
that if the Jewish morality in the former days is not that of Jesus it was 
at least better than the morality of their neighbors, for they slaughtered also, 
but slaughtered for the devil’s sake, and the Jews slaughtered for righteous- 
ness’ sake, to bring to an end a filthy idolatry and to make clean their land ? 
The Bible contains the only complete account of the growth of morality, 
and at every turn it gives pledges of truthfulness, and also shows that the 
resources of human nature were reinforced by the grace of God. 

If anyone desires to pass judgment on the morality of the Bible, he 
must do so when it has reached its height. One passes no opinion on a 


The evolution 
of morality. 


Introduction . 


xxxm 


picture when the figures are only roughly drawn, or upon a building when 
the walls are only rising above the ground, or upon corn while it is still in 
the stalk. One has no right to judge the Bible in its elemen- 
tary stages; one has a perfect right to judge the Bible when p character 
its work is done, not by Abraham and David, but by Christ. 

Can anyone complain of the Gospels ? Can any charge be brought against 
the Sermon on the Mount ? Who is not ready to pay tribute to Jesus 
Christ? And Jesus Christ is the crown of Bible History. 

And the chief quality in the Bible is spirituality , which makes it beyond 
question the book in religion. It may seem on first sight that the Bible 
were nothing but a set of biographies, or the annals of the Hebrew people, 
or a varied collection of literature, or sometimes the record of very bad men 
and very bad deeds. When one looks deeper he discovers that all this 
mixed and strange material is only the scaffolding which surrounds the 
building, so that when you take it down you see the Temple. Only the 
casket which holds the jewel, so that if you have patience to open it you will 
see the pearl of great price. Only the stem and the ear which are neces- 
sary before you can have the wheat, and then if you thresh the straw and 
fan away the chaff you have the good grain. Every book has an end and a 
certain way of reaching the end. The end of this Book is religion, and the 
means of reaching it is human history. God can only reveal Himself to the 
human soul, as the human soul fulfills its appointed course in life, and this 
revelation will be slow, and broken, but it will be continuous and cumula- 
tive. Abraham heard the voice of God as he lived in Mesopotamia and 
went out to search for God. Through all his journeying and 
his business, and his family affairs and his war, he was God , s hand 
discovering God, and before he died he knew God. This 
knowledge he passed as his chief bequest to the generations following, 
and Jacob in his strange life came nearer to the eternal than Abraham. 
Moses received a yet fuller revelation of the character of God for which 
he was prepared by being the deliverer and creator of the Hebrew nation. 
David sounded depths that Moses had not known and bought some of his 
experiences at a great price of passion and of penalty. The prophets 
had a vision of the divine purposes and the glory of the human race, 


XXXIV 


Introduction . 


which had not been possible to the patriarchs, and this they learned through 
the chequered events of Jewish history, through the exile and the restora- 
tion. God makes Himself known through the widening consciousness of 
the soul and through the development of national history and the light 
behind is ever God. Saints come to know the character of God through 
the temptations and the victories of their own spiritual life ; they come 
to know the will of God through the reverses and the successes of their 
people, till at last men can say with some authority what God is and 
what God does. As the mountain lake, which is the mirror of the sun, 
is fed by many a spring, so this sense of God, which was so clear and full 
with a later Hebrew people, was gathered out of emigration and family 
quarrels, and battles with other nations and desert marches, and vigils 
of saints and moral tragedies and hideous crimes, and broken hearts 
through all the innumerable details of human life. But at every point the 
Bible asserts and declares God. 

The Bible also, as it moves to a perfect morality of human life, is 
also advancing to a perfect revelation for the human soul. As time went 
on the saints of the Bible began to cherish the unique hope 
human* destiny ^ iat some day or other God, whom they saw only indirectly 
and faintly, who was ever eluding their faith and provoking 
its pursuit, would declare Himself plainly, so that even the fool and the 
wayfaring man should be satisfied. This was the hope of the Messiah, 
which lent such a gracious beauty to the writings of the prophets and to 
the later Old Testament believers. The Old Testament Saints waited 
for Christ as those that watch for the morning. The Old Testament 
Scriptures are a headless statue without Christ. When He came the 
saints of the past were justified who had seen His day afar off and were 
glad. When He came the writings of the past were illuminated as when 
you hold a plate against the light. Truly the New Testament lay hid 
in the Old and in the New the Old lay open. Without Christ the Old 
Testament had ended in confusion ; without Christ there had been no 
New Testament. Towards Bethlehem the whole Bible story moves from 
the days of Abraham unto Galilee and Calvary, and the Resurrection. 
The Bible story returns from Antioch and Philippi and Rome and the 


Introduction. 


xxxv 


ends of the earth. Jesus Christ is the sum and substance of the Bible, 
whom every good man shadows forth as the perfection of life, whom every 
sinner calls for as his Saviour, whom every prophet declares as the King, 
in whom every commandment is fulfilled, in whom every promise is Yea 
and Amen, from whose hand comes every gift. A moment 
ago we deprecated that form of interpretation which would ^eBook ° f 
find the doctrines of theological science under every inci- 
dent of life. But one has only affectionate respect for those preachers 
of the ancient day who found Christ in every text. If they were mistaken 
in their reference, they may be pardoned, because it was an error of love, 
which, ever thinking of an absent Lord, would find Him everywhere. 
And it was not altogether an error, for surely if the Bible as a whole is the 
proclamation of Christ, then from every text, however remote and however 
strange, there must be some pathway that shall bring us into the great 
high road, along which the saints traveled to the Incarnation, and along 
which the saints still travel to the throne. The Bible, from Genesis to 
Revelation, may be gathered up in these two words, which can never 
disappoint and never be exhausted. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world. 



(“Ian Maclaren .”) 








The Light of the W orld. 


CHAPTER I. 



‘ * In the begin?iing God 
created the heaven and the 
earthy 

Genesis. 


HE heavens are thine, the earth also is thine : 
as for the world and the fullness thereof, 
thou has founded them! 

It is difficult for us to imagine the world 
in its primal state, when there was neither 
sun, nor moon, to afford light; when it was without vegetation, or life, or 
atmosphere, a still and pulseless atom on the sea of boundless immensity, 
enveloped in darkness and without form, waiting command of Omnipotence 
to be spoken into order. Before this time, when chaos was without, there 
was a heavenly sphere, in which Jehovah ruled, and there was a host of 
radiant seraphs that rendered their devotions to the King of kings, in 
whose presence there was joy such as mortals may never know. What 
a glorious place must have been this celestial city, where sorrow and sin 
could not enter ; where beauty abounded, and heavenly content prevailed ! 

And it is a wonderful thing, whereby the great love of God is 
manifested, that the world should have been fashioned by His generous 

(33) 


3 


34 


God Divided the Light from the Darkness. 


fiat, and that men should have been inspired, ages thereafter, to describe 
the glorious and benign work of the creator, that His merciful pro- 
visions might become known, and worshipful reverence be 
By understand- begotten on earth. What a charming story, writ by God- 
I s l!! 3 ^ directed pens! What a blissful revelation from the Father 

established the r 

Heavens. of the Universe is the Bible, that tells us of the most 
masterly of labors — the birth of the spheres, the building of 
the world, the adornment and the peopling of our habitation, and the 
infinite splendors and blessings of our abode! 

As there were no people on the earth until after the seven days of 
creation were accomplished, no one would have been able to describe this 
marvelous work had not God inspired some man, long after born, with 
the knowledge necessary thereto. 

In the time of Moses there were none, not even the wisest, who knew 
aught of how the world was made, or how it had once been drowned for 
the wickedness of the people. Through loving regard for His children, 
and in the pride of His handiwork, God endowed Moses with the gift of 
revelation, by which he was enabled to describe things he had never 
seen or heard of, for it was indeed God who directed his hand in the 
writing, so that Moses was but the instrument, or the pen, which God 
used to tell the story of creation. It was thus that the first five books 
(called the Pentateuch) of the Bible were written. 

The beginning of God’s six days of labor was the creation of the earth, 
and of heaven, which was the air, or atmosphere, round about the earth, 
Let them be for for heaven itself already existed. We still call the blue vault 
lights in the overhead, studded with the bright constellation of stars, the 

firmament. h eavenSj an d ft was this heaven, in contradistinction from 

that which is the abode of God, that is thus referred to by Moses. The 
earth was without form and in darkness, until by the divine command the 
sun and moon and stars burst into being and cast their first light upon 
the new world. The light and darkness were now separated so that at 
appointed times the earth should be bathed with the sun’s rays, and again 
be covered with darkness, and these changes God designed should occur 
every twelve hours. The former He therefore called day, and the latter night. 


35 


Let Them Have Dominion Over Every Creeping Thing . 

He divided the waters and made the dry land to appear, and in the 
latter planted the seed of every kind of tree, grass and herb, which were made 
to spring up and yield their fruit to bless the earth, and the creatures which 
were speedily to be brought into being. The waters were now made to bring 
forth fish of every species, including the great whales and other monsters 
which belong to the deep, and winged fowls were made to fly above the 
waters and the earth. Then followed the creation of all manner of beasts 
and cattle, and things that creep as well, so that on the last day of God’s 
labor the earth was teeming with life, both great and small, blessed by 
His generous hand, and ready for the dominion which He was about to 
give to a creature yet unborn to exercise over them. 

Over all this beautiful world, so fresh and perfect, so wondrous with 
rich vegetation, and marvelous with abundant and diversified life, God 
cast His gratified eye, and was pleased with His labor. But His great 
work was yet incomplete, for though all things which He had made were 
beautiful and perfect, He had given to none of His creatures the divine 
attribute — reason — which could make them mindful of His goodness and 
their dependency upon His bounty and mercy. To complete the measure 
of His omnipotence, God therefore said unto the celestial host by which 
He was surrounded, “ Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” 
And so God fashioned Adam (signifying the first man) in His own image, 
and gave to him dominion over every living thing that was on the earth, 
and made every tree and herb to bring forth fruit for him. 

It was on the seventh day that God ended His work of creation, and 
He rested on that day and blessed and sanctified it, being greatly pleased 
with what He had done. But after resting one day, God And thc hcaven 
returned to His labor, not of creating, but of preparing the and the earth 
earth for the being He had fashioned in His own likeness, were finished. 

The record of Moses tells us that “the Lord God planted a garden 
eastward in Eden ; and there He put the man whom he had formed.” In 
this delightful spot, called Eden, where all mauner of delicious fruits 

grew where flowers beautified the landscape, and filled the air with 

nature’s incense; where gorgeously plumed birds flitted about in the 
glorious sunlight like jewels of many hues ; where a limpid stream, parting 


36 Man and Wife They shall be One Flesh. 

beyond into four rivers, lapped its grassy banks and sang a murmur- 
song to beast, bird and insect that came to drink of its sweet waters, — 
there were two trees, unlike any of their fellows, and these were planted near 
the centre, where they might command a view of all the garden. One 
of these remarkable productions was called the tree of life, because of the 
virtue of its fruit to impart immortality. The other was the tree of good 
and evil, the fruit of which possessed the power of communicating a 
knowledge of virtue and vice, thus one became the guardian of spiritual 
life, while the other contained the incentive to physical and sensual debase- 
ment. 

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden He told him to eat 
freely of everything that pleased him, save of the fruit of the tree of good and 
evil, which He strictly forbade him to touch, and fixed the penalty of death 
for a violation of this injunction. 

After giving possession of the garden to Adam, God caused every species 
of bird, animal, and reptile that He had created to pass before Adam, who 
gave to each the name by which it should afterward be known. But though 
Adam had dominion over every living thing, and was set in the midst of 
all the beautiful productions that prolific and exuberant nature could yield, 
he was nevertheless lonesome, and sighed for companionship which nothing 
that God had yet made could supply. The birds of the air builded their 
nests and warbled sweetly their orisons together, while the beasts of the 
field lay down beside each other or sported over the green fields in happy 
freedom and joyful communication. Adam alone was without a mate to 
share the pleasures of Eden with him, a lonely creature amid the splendors 
of paradise. 

God had compassion upon Adam, however, and resolved to give him 
a helpmate who should make happy his days, and fill his heart with 
it is not good renewed thanksgiving. Accordingly, God caused a deep sleep 
that man to fall upon Adam, and while he slept a rib was taken from 
should be alone, w hich God fashioned into a woman, and when Adam 

awoke the most beautiful of all creatures stood before him to be his 
companion for life, a joy unspeakable to his heart, a peace pure and 
perfect to his soul. This was the birth of love, the holiest feeling 


37 


And the Eyes of Both of Them Were Opened. 

planted in the human breast, the link that binds us in image, likeness, 
and aspirations to God the Father, the bond that neither time nor grave 
can sever. 

Now was Adam happy, and the companion whom God had thus provided, 
whose name was called Eve (signifying the mother of life), ministered to 
his joy as only a loving wife can. How were their hearts gladdened by 
the pride that burst from every flower scattering its incense, and every 
tree laughing with its golden fruit, and every herb yielding its succulent 
roots. But with all these wayside pleasures, limpid streams, musical 
winds, singing birds, delicious fruit, fragrant buds, and eyes that reflected 
love’s image, hearts speaking loyal devotion, and words garlanded with 
honeyed phrases, there was that in the midst of these which should turn 
the heart from loving and the soul from thankfulness. Within this 
beautiful garden was the serpent tempter, who was more cunning than 
any beast of the field, and he came to Eve, assuming the appearance of 
one wise, and said, “Yea, hath God said ye shall not eat of every tree 
of the Garden ?” 

Then Eve answered him by saying they were permitted to eat the fruit of 
every tree in the garden except of the one which stood in the centre, and 
this they were forbidden even to touch under penalty of Ye shall not 
death. The tempter, however, beguiled her with assurances surc, y die. 
that the fruit was not hurtful, but as grateful to the taste as to the sight, 
and, moreover, that the eating of it would make her as wise as God 
himself. These specious promises at length so excited the curiosity of 
Eve that she took the fruit and ate of it, and finding it pleasant to the 
taste, she persuaded Adam also to eat. When they had committed this 
great sin they heard the voice of God calling to them in the garden, 
and they hid themselves, being conscious of their guilt, and fear-stricken 
for the punishment that they had thus merited. 

God asked Adam and Eve if they had eaten of the forbidden fruit, 
to which they made reply that they had done so, being tempted and 
deceived by the serpent. Whereat God was much angered, and told them 
that their disobedience should be punished in a most grievous manner : 
The serpent should thenceforth crawl upon the ground with its mouth 


38 In Sorrow Shalt Thou Eat of it All the Days of Thy Life . 

in the dust, and every man should seek its life ; the woman, Eve, should 
be heir to great pain and sorrow, and the man, Adam, should thereafter 
be forced to labor in the fields and earn his bread by the sweat of his 
brow. But beyond this punishment there was yet a greater, for God, 
finding them unfitted for the beautiful garden that He had provided for 
them, drove Adam and Eve out of Eden, and to prevent their return 
He placed at the east of the garden cherubim in whose hands were 
flaming swords with which the gates were guarded. Instead of perpetual 
joy and everlasting life, which were their original inheritance, God right- 
fully afflicted them with sorrow and doomed them and their descendants, 
forever, to death ; yet His mercifulness was exhibited even in His anger, 
for though they should pass through the grave, immortality was provided 
by a resurrection and redemption which should ultimately restore them 
to the blissful condition in which they were first placed. 

The primal condition of the first pair was one of innocent simplicity ; 
unconsciousness of evil, and without knowledge of pain. They had no 
thought of the morrow, no worriments of to-day ; infantile 

Behold, the man ^ # ’ . 

is become as in their sense of obligation, and guileless because their souls 
one of us. we re pure and their surroundings instinct with the holy 
passion. By eating fruit of the tree of knowledge, their minds were open 
to contemplation ; their physical being and their moral nature now had 
its beginning, in the light of comprehending good and evil, for by their 
act of disobedience evil was introduced into the world. But this great 
change had some compensations, which were a manifestation of God’s 
providence and beneficent care. The birth of sin also brought forth rev- 
erence, and appreciation of the goodness of the deity. From a child in 
understanding Adam and Eve had come suddenly to know the kindness 
of God, to acknowledge the debt they owed, and to sorrow for their viola- 
tion of His commandment. By this self-accusing their aspirations were 
aroused, humility was confessed, and a religious and devout nature was 
quickly developed, that made them worshipful of God as the author of 
their being, and the father of all good. Therefore did they accept their 
punishment with resignation, and with reverent submission they set about 
the task that had been appointed them. 


Abel was a Keeper of Sheep , but Cam was a Tiller of the Ground. 39 


After Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden they according^ began 
to cultivate the soil, which, though choked by briers and weeds, by hard 
labor was still made to produce abundantly for their uses. God soon 
after gave them two sons, the elder of whom was called Cain and the 
younger Abel. As these grew up the former became a tiller of the soil 
and the latter looked after the flocks, so that they became great helps to 
their parents. 

Though punished sorely for his transgression, Adam And the lord 
worshiped God and offered up becoming sacrifices* that won had respect 
His favor. Cain and Abel were also taught to be devotional, unto AbcL 
and they, too, made sac- v rifices of the fruits of their labor. On one 
occasion, while working J in the field together and alone, Abel made 




the sacrifice of a lamb, 
and Cain offered one of the 
grain and grasses of the field. 
Both would have been accept 
able to God had they been 
proffered in the same loving 
spirit ; but Cain made his offer- 
ing with a rebellious and sinful 
heart, or sacrilegious spirit, 
while Abel rendered up grateful 
thanks for the mercies he had 


CAIN ROSE UP AGAINST ABED AND' SEEW HIM. 



(4°J AND add the high hidds that were under the whode heaven were covered. 


The Voice of Thy Brother's Blood Crieth unto Me from the Ground . 41 

received. Thus God was pleased with Abel’s offering and offended with 
that of Cain’s, whereat Cain became so incensed with his brother that he 
killed him. 

After committing this foul murder Cain was sorely troubled in his 
heart and would gladly have hidden himself from the All-seeing eye, but 



ADAM AND EVE LAMENTING THE DEATH OF ABEL. 


God called to him and asked where was his brother. Cain’s response 
showed plainly how troubled and yet rebellious was his spirit, for in a 
pettish mood he answered, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But God had 
been a witness to the murder and would avenge it by placing a curse 
upon the criminal. God did not kill Cain, but sent him out a vagabond and 


42 


Cain Went Out from the Presence of the Lord . 

outcast upon the world, with a brand upon him that would serve to show 
to all who should thereafter meet him that he was his brother’s murderer. 

Cain now became conscious of the great sin that he 
The Lord set a had committed, and realized how bitter was the punishment 
mark upon Cain, which God had pronounced against him, so he cried out, 
partly in remorse, but chiefly as an appeal for mercy, “ My 
punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me 
out this day from the face of the earth.” 

Cain, after being banished forever from the face of God, became an 
outcast. He left the home of his father and mother, and for many years 
wandered over the land, until at length he settled in a country called 
Nod, where it is related he took a wife and founded a great city. 

Shortly after Cain left Adam and Eve, another son was born to them, 
whom they named Seth, and though the Bible does not tell us the names 
of the other children of our first parents, it is probable that many were 
born to them, both sons and daughters, for Adam did not die until he 
was nine hundred and thirty years of age. Eve’s age is not given. 
When Seth was one hundred and five years old he had a son whom he 
named Enos, at which time there were a great many people on the earth, 
descended from the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, a fact which 
we can more readily understand, knowing that in those days men and 
women lived to be many hundreds of years old, so that more than one 
hundred children might be born to each couple. The increase was there- 
fore so extremely rapid that after Cain’s many years of wanderings he 
found people spread over a large extent of country. 

Some time after Cain had taken a wife in the land of Nod, a son 
was born to him whom he named Enoch. The piety and wisdom of this 
son was so great that Cain founded and named a city in his honor. 
There was also another Enoch, a descendant of Seth, and who was equally 
noted for wisdom, and was withal so righteous a man that he did not 
die, but was translated to heaven. 

Cain had a great many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 
among whom were Jubal, the inventor of the first musical instrument, 
and Tubal-cain, who was the first metal founder, and made tools of iron 


EVERY UVING SUBSTANCE WAS DESTROYED WHICH WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE GROUND. 



ssSi&l! 





44 The Wickedness of Man was Great in the Earth. 

and brass. Another was Jabal, who was a great herder, and became 
“ the father of all such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. ” 

Enoch, although the most upright and godly man of 
My spirit shall hj s time, yet had many children who were unmindful of 
with man r ' Ve &°°d ness an d uiercy of God, and who refused to walk in' 
the footsteps of their father. The Bible does not describe 
the wickedness of Enoch’s children, but it tells us that in the earlier life 
of his grandson, Noah, the people were so sinful that God began to 
repent that He had made man, finding in him nothing but waywardness 
and ingratitude. 

So great became the wickedness of men on the earth that God 
resolved to destroy the beautiful world which He had first fashioned for 
the abode of a being made in His own image and likeness. Now, among 
the many thousands of people who were living at the time there was but 
one who found favor in God’s eyes. This one exception was Noah, who 
had always walked uprightly and given praise for the manifold blessings 
God had bestowed on mankind. Noah had three sons, whose names 
were Shem, Ham, and Japheth, all of whom had also wives, and the 
family were devoted to the things which were just and 
The seed of all righteous. When God determined to destroy the world, He 

flesh is come 

before me. therefore excepted Noah and his family from the calamity, 
reserving them to re-people the earth, after every other living 
thing, save two of every creature, should be destroyed. To save them, 
God told Noah to build an ark, which was an immense boat, capable 
of containing not only his family, but two of every species of living 
thing found upon the earth, and seven of every clean beast, which should 
serve for food during the period that Noah should remain in the ark. 

It required a long time to construct so large a vessel, and we may 
imagine how earnestly Noah sought to convert the people from their 
wickedness during the time of its building; but they were so corrupt 
that none gave heed to his warning. When, at length, the ark was 
completed, God commanded Noah to enter, together with his wife, and 
sons, and their wives, and two of all creatures, both great and small, 
animals, birds, insects and every living thing. Seven days thereafter a 


45 


And the Waters Prevailed Exceedingly upon the Earth . 

great rain began to fall, which continued for a period of forty days and 
as many nights. The waters rose rapidly, and the wicked people and 
creatures that were doomed to destruction fled their homes and caves and 
sought high places out of the reach of the waters. But little did this 



MOUNT ARARAT. 


avail them, for the flood 
higher, covering first the plains, 
and at last the highest mountain 
everything perished, not housed 

and the world became still with death and desolation, 
visible save Noah’s vessel, which alone rode the waves that rolled unfettered 
over the wide, wide shoreless waste, with nothing to break their force against. 

The boundless waters prevailed over the earth one hundred and fifty 
days, when God made a wind to blow over the great sea, which evaporated 


rose higher and 
then the hills, 
tops, so that 
within the ark, 
Not a thing was 


46 


And the Waters Returned from off the Earth . 



waters had abated. But Noah 
still remained in the ark an- 
other seven days, when he 
again sent forth the dove, 
which did not return any more. This was a sign to him that the 
waters were removed and that the earth was ready to receive him. He 
therefore u removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold the 
face of the ground was dry.” By command of God, Noah then came out 
of the ark, followed bv his wife and sons and their wives, and every living 


the waters gradually, until after seven months the ark rested on a high 
mountain peak, in Arabia, called Ararat. Three months later the tops of 
the less lofty mountains became visible, and forty days after Noah sent forth 
a raven to see if it could find a congenial resting-place. The raven con- 
tinued to flv over the face of the waters, so Noah next sent forth a dove, 

but the bird found no place 
to set her foot and returned 
to the ark. Seven days 
thereafter he sent out the 
dove again, and in the even- 
ing it returned to him with 
an olive leaf in its beak, 
which was a sign that the 


HE SENT FORTH A DOVE- 


And the Lord Came Down to See the Tower. 47 

thing that had been shut up therein with him. Upon reaching the valley, 
Noah built an altar, upon which he sacrificed of every clean beast and 
fowl, as an offering of his thankfulness, whereupon God was so pleased 
that He made a promise never to destroy the world again ; and He blessed 
Noah and his family, and bade them replenish the earth. God then made 
a covenant with Noah, the token of which was the rainbow, _ . _ 
which, whenever seen was to be a reminder of His promise buiided an altar 
never again to drown the world, or the creatures thereon, unto the Lord. 
Three hundred and fifty years after the deluge Noah died, and his age 
was nine hundred and fifty years. 

When Noah and his family left the ark, they scattered and went into 
different countries and began to replenish the earth as God had commanded, 
so that when Noah died there were a great many people on the earth 
again. The largest settlement, we are led to suppose by the record, was 
somewhere near the central portion of Arabia, where the people were in 
such numbers that they began to forget God. At length there was a great 
emigration from Arabia eastward, and, as the people reached the plains 
of Shinar, along the Euphrates River, they found the country so fertile 
that they concluded to stop there and build a great tower. Their pur- 
pose in constructing such a building is not known, but as they said, 
“Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven,” 
it is inferred that they either expected to climb into heaven from its apex 
or to use it as a means of escape should God forget his covenant and 
send another deluge. 

When they began to build the tower, every person spoke the same 
language, but as they progressed with the work God saw the evil of their 
intent, and so confused their tongues that the workmen could no longer 
understand each other, and they were thus compelled to relinquish their 
design, and the tower was left incomplete. On account of the babel and 
confusion of the laborers, the tower was called Babel, by which it was 
ever afterward known. 


CHAPTER II. 


And the Lord said unto Abraham , Get thee out of thy country. 



ONSPICUOUS among the descendants of 
Shem first mentioned in the Bible 
was Abram, who was the son of 
Terah. He had two brothers, 
Nahor and Haran, the latter of 
whom was the father of Lot, whose 
sad history we shall soon relate. 
Abram, who was a man of a holy spirit, 
had a wife named Sarai, a godly 
woman that was devoted to the Lord 
and her husband. Terah had long 
dwelt in the town of Ur, which was on 
the Euphrates, about one hundred miles 
southeast of Babel, but for reasons which the Bible does not explain he 
left Ur, and journeyed to the land of Mesopotamia, or Padan-Aram, which 
had been settled by the descendants of Ham. He took with him his sons 
and their wives, and also Lot, his grandson, and after many weeks of 
travel he settled at Haran, on the river Belik, which is now about the 
centre of Turkey in Asia. After the death of Terah, God told Abram 
to leave Haran and separate from all his kinsmen except Lot, and to go 
unto another country which He would show him. The purpose of God, 
as He told Abram, was to found a new nation, over which he should 
rule to the glory of His name. 

According to this commandment Abram left Haran, taking with him 
only his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot, and went southward to the land 
of Canaan, as they were directed. But while they journeyed, God appeared 
to Abram on the plain of Moreh, and told him that to him and his 

(48) 


I Know that Thou Art a Fair Woman to Look Upon. 


49 



descendants He would give all the land of Canaan, which is now called 
Palestine, or the Holy Land. Abram was very grateful for the divine 
favor, and when he came to a mountain near Bethel, he built an altar unto 
the Lord and gave praise, though he knew not whither God was leading 
him. As Abram continued traveling south- 
ward he found that there was a great 
famine in Canaan, so he did not tarry but 
went on toward 
Egypt. As they 
came near to the 
boundary of 
Egypt, Abram 
heard of the wick- 
edness of the people of that country, and lest 
harm might come to him if the Egyptians 
should know that 
Sarai was his wife, 

Abram told her to 
say, to any who 
might ask, that 
she was his sister. 

As they advanced 
into the country, 
the people were 
attracted to Sarai 
by her great 

beauty, so she was taken from Abram 
and placed in Pharaoh’s (the king’s] 
house, where she was made wife to 
the king. For this wickedness on NOAH buieded an ai/tar unto the eord. 
the part of Pharaoh, God sent a plague upon him and his house, until it 
was made known that Sarai was not the sister but the wife of Abram. 
Pharaoh reproached Abram for deceiving him, but restored Sarai, when 
together Abram, Sarai and Lot went out of Egypt and came again to 


50 


Abraham was Rich in Cattle , Silver and Gold. 


bear them. 

sions were 
siderable, s o 
not fertile 
sustenance of 


the mountain near Bethel, where he had builded an altar, and there 
called upon the Lord as to what he should do. 

And the land Now Abram was a very rich man, having of cattle and 

was not able to sheep such a great number that it required the services of 
hundreds of herdsmen to care for them. But Lot’s posses- 

scarcely less con- 
that the land was 
enough for the 
so many animals ; 
besides, the herds- 
men who cared 
for the flocks of 
Abram were at 
strife with those 
employed by Lot, 
which made it 
necessary that Lot 
and Abram should 
separate and occupy 
different lands; 
Abram therefore said 
to Lot, his nephew, 
“ Let there be no strife 
between thee and me, for 
we be brethren. Is not 
the whole land before thee ? 
Separate thyself, I pray thee, from 
me ; if thou wilt take the left hand, 
then I will go to the right ; or, if thou 
depart to the right hand, then I will go to 
the left.” This kind speech showed the right- 
eous disposition of Abram, and his willingness to be controlled by justice 
as God taught him to see the right. The two parted as good friends 
should, no doubt deeply regretting the circumstances that compelled 



THE FLIGHT OF EOT. 





» 



52 


And they Took Lot , Abraham's Brother's Son. 

their separation. Abram remained in the land of Canaan where he had 
built an altar to the Lord, but Lot chose to move east to the rich plain 
of Jordan, which was likened unto a garden of the Lord and a country 
both beautiful and fertile. 

When Lot had removed” all his possessions to the plain of Jordan, 
God told Abram to lift up his eyes and look about in every direction, 
for as far as he could see the land should be his forever. After this 
Abram moved to the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and there 
built another altar which he dedicated to the Lord, and began the 
founding of a nation as God had promised. 

When Lot moved to the plain of Jordan, he took up his residence 
in a city called Sodom, where he prospered, until four kings, Chedorlaomer, 
king of Elam, Tidal, king of nations, Amraphel, king of 
And there came 3J 1 j nar> an d Arioch, king of Ellasar, laid siege to Sodom 

one that had 

escaped. and captured the city. Not content with the victory, for 
they fought for spoils, and not principles, they sacked the 
place, taking away everything of value, and carried off a great many 
Sodomites, whom they intended should serve them as slaves. Among 
these unfortunate captives was Lot whose unhappy fate was soon told to 
Abram by one of Lot’s neighbors, who had escaped. Immediately upon 
learning this news Abram called together his trained servants, three 
hundred and eighteen in number, and arming them well he went in 
pursuit of the four kings, whom he came up with in the country of Dan, 
where, dividing his forces so as to make a simultaneous attack in several 
quarters, he fell upon the despoilers in the night-time, and after slaughter- 
ing many put the rest to flight ; but he followed after the fleeing army as 
far as Damascus, where, to effect their escape, the kings delivered over 
to Abram not only all their captives but the things that they had taken 
at Sodom, together with all their own possessions. So Abram brought 
back everything that had been taken away, and he returned to the 
Sodomites all the things of which they had been despoiled. 

As Abram was journeying back toward the city he was met by 
Melchizedek, the high-priest, and also by the king of Sodom, both of 
whom desired to manifest their thankfulness for the great service which 


And Melchizedek , King of Salem , brought forth Bread and Wine . 53 



Abram had rendered them. 
Melchizedek met him with bread 
and wine to feed the victorious 
soldiers, and gave Abram his 
blessing also. The king of 
Sodom was so thankful for the 
deliverance of his people that 
he said to Abram, “ Give me 
the persons and take the goods 
to thyself.” But Abram knew 
that it was God who had given 
him the victory, and refused 
to take anything from the 
people, but gave all that had 
been taken from the kings to 
those who had suffered at their 
hands, reserving only rewards 
for three young men who, 
though not his servants, went 
with him to battle. At this 


AND SHE DEPARTED. 


just and generous 
act God was still 
more pleased, and 
came to Abram 
in a vision, say- 
ing, “ Fear not, 
Abram : I am thy 
shield, and thy 
exceeding great 
reward.” 


SHE SAT OVER AGAINST HIM AND EIFTED UP HER VOICE AND WEPT. 


54 I Am the Almighty God; Walk Before Me and be Thou Perfect. 

Abram was not unmindful of the tender mercies which the Lord had 
shown him, but he was distressed on account of his childless condition, 
for though God had promised to give the land of Canaan to his descend- 
ants, Abram could not discover how this could be, since his wife was 
already old and no child had yet been born to them. Then God told 
Abram to look toward the sky and to try and count the stars, for as 
numerous as the stars were, yet they were not more than the number of 
descendants which he should have. 

When evening came on Abram fell into a deep sleep, during which 
God again appeared to him and repeated His promise to make his descend- 
ants as numerous as the stars, but told him also that they 
Ab^aham^keep s ^ ou ^ t> e strangers in another country, where they would 
his covenants, be grievously wronged by being made to do hard service 
and be treated with great injustice. This, however, should 
not be until after Abram’s death, for God assured him that he should live 
to a good old age and then die in peace, and also that He would, in the 
fourth generation, deliver Abram’s descendants from their bondage and 
punish their masters for their iniquities. 

Sarai was as much distressed at not having children as was Abram, 
so she told her husband to take her handmaid, who was named Hagar, 
to wife, and to bring up children by her. Hagar was a comely woman 
who had entered the service of her mistress while Abram was sojourning 
in Egypt, and although she was an Egyptian, she could not have been 
so wicked as were her countrywomen, or Abram would hardly have per- 
mitted her to go back to Canaan with him. 

Some time after Abram had taken Hagar to be his wife, polygamy 
being common in those days, she bore him a son who was named Ishmael. 
After this event God again appeared to Abram and renewed His covenant, 
or promise, with him, at which He changed the name of Abram to that 
of Abraham, and of Sarai to that of Sarah, and told him that though 
Sarah was now ninety years old she would, nevertheless, bear him a son, 
who should be called Isaac. God further told Abraham that though Ishmael 
would find much favor in His sight, and become the father of twelve princes 
and the founder of a great nation, yet He would establish His covenant with 
Isaac, who was to become yet greater. 


55 


Fear Not , for God hath Heard the Voice of the Lad . 

Everything happened as God had foretold, but after Isaac was born 
Sarah became very jealous of Hagar and Ishmael, whom she did not wish 
to share the inheritance, promised by God, with her son, so she 
commanded Abraham to cast out Hagar and Ishmael, since she Do to her as ,l 

pleaseth thee. 

was a bondwoman. Abraham was sorely distressed because 
of Sarah’s complaint, but as God told him to obey his wife he did accord- 
ingly ; therefore, early in the morning he took a bottle of water and some 
provisions, which he gave to Hagar, and sent her out of his house. Had 
not God assured him that He would care for Hagar, and would preserve 
Ishmael and make him a great ruler, Abraham would hardly have consented 
to do so hard a thing as Sarah had commanded, but in all things Abraham 
was both trustful and obedient, as the frequent trials of his great faith prove. 

When Hagar went away she became a wanderer in the wilderness of 
Beersheba, her heart overflowing with sorrow, and her feet following after no 
path. Thus did she aimlessly roam about, until the water in the bottle that 
Abraham had given her had all been spent, and Ishmael began to cry for 
drink. The thirst of the poor child at last became so great that Hagar laid 
him down on the earth and went in search of water, but wherever she 
turned the ground was parched, and moisture was not anywhere about. 
This poor mother’s love was put fully to the test, for seeing her child dying 
with thirst which she could not allay, she drew away from Ishmael the 
distance of a bow-shot and sat down and cried bitterly, saying, “ Let me not 
see the death of the child.” As she was weeping with the deep grief that 
was so sorely afflicting her, Hagar heard a voice saying, Lct mc not sec 
u Hagar, what aileth thee ? ” Looking up she saw an angel the death of 
who told her to rise up and not be afraid, for God had heard the ch,ld * 
the lad, and would save him and make him the ruler of a great nation. The 
angel then directed her to a well of water that began to flow near her, so that 
she filled her bottle again and gave the lad to drink. After this God took 
care of Hagar and Ishmael, who went into the wilderness of Paran, where 
Ishmael grew up to be a great archer, and his mother procured for him a 
wife out of Egypt, whither Hagar and Ishmael went to live, and where it 
afterward came to pass as God had promised, so that Hagar was rewarded in 
the end by seeing her son become a ruler scarcely inferior to Isaac. 


CHAPTER III. 


Behold , now , Thy servant hath found grace in Thy sight. 



SHORT time before the birth of 
Isaac, and the sending of Hagar 
away, as just described, Abraham 
received another manifestation 
of God’s special love for him. 
While sitting in the door of his 
tent, toward the midday hour 
he saw three men approaching, 
whom, upon coming near, he 
invited to rest themselves beneath 
the shade of a tree which stood 
before his tent, and ordered 
some water to be brought that they might wash their feet, for they 
appeared to be weary from traveling. While the three were washing, 
Abraham brought a calf to be killed and some cakes to be cooked, and 
when the meal was ready he served his guests beneath the tree under 
which they had been invited to sit. After the three had eaten they 
arose and departed toward the city of Sodom, Abraham following after, 
for he now perceived that they were not men, but angels whom God had 
wilt thou dc- sent to bear a messa & e t° him. When they had gone a 
stroy the right- little way, the angels speaking for the Lord, told Abraham 
eous with the that the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah had become 

wicked ? • 

so great that God had determined to destroy them. Now 
Lot, Abraham’s nephew, whom he dearly loved, dwelt in Sodom, and 
Abraham was therefore much distressed, both for the people, and lest Lot 

(56' 


And there Came two Angels to Sodom at Even . 57 

might not escape God’s vengeance. He therefore called upon the Lord and 
asked if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked ; that if there 
were fifty righteous in the city, would He not spare the place. After pre- 
vailing with the Lord in begging Him to spare the city for the few righteous 
that might be found therein, God finally told him that if as many as ten 
righteous persons could be found in the city He would spare it. Abraham 
believed that many more than ten resided within the gates of Sodom, for 
whose sake the Lord would withhold His anger, so he returned to his tent. 

In the evening of the same day, as Lot sat at one of the gates of 
Sodom, he saw two men coming toward him, and as they drew near he 
invited them to go into his house and tarry with him all night. To his 
kindly invitation they answered nay, saying they would remain in the 
street ; but he pressed his invitation upon them so urgently that they at 
length consented, and when they had entered, Lot caused a feast to be 
made wherewith to entertain the strangers. 

After the supper was over the men asked Lot how many there were 
of his family, to which reply being made, they told him to get his people 
together and also all his possessions, and to bring them at 
once out of the place, for God had sent them as His Escape for 

messengers to destroy both Sodom and Gomorrah. When thy life; look not 
morning appeared the two men, whom Lot now knew to be bchmd thee * 
angels, told him to make haste and take his family out 
of the city, lest he be consumed with all the others. Lot still lingered, 
scarcely believing what had been prophesied, until the two angels took 
him by the hand, and also seized upon the hands of his wife and two 
daughters, and brought them without the place, and bade them run for 
their lives. So Lot ran with his family toward the nearest town, and as 
they departed rapidly the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah fire 
and brimstone, which made a great smoke and flame, so that the burning 
might be seen from a great distance. In their hasty flight Lot’s wife 
was tempted by the great noise she heard and the singular thing which 
had now come to fulfill what the celestial messengers had foretold, and 
looked back toward the burning city, when instantly she was changed 
into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters, however, continued on until 


5 » 


The Thing was Grievous in Abraham' s Sight. 




they came to the town of Zoar, not far distant from Sodom, where they 
dwelt for a time until they were received by Abraham. 

The sending of Hagar away 
so greatly grieved Abraham that 
the Lord was not wholly pleased, 
seeing that His servant did not 
accept all the things 
commanded of him to 
be done with 
that resigna- 
tion which is 
commendable 
in those who 
seek to do 
God’s will, so 
the Lord de- 




ABRAHAM OFFERING UP ISAAC. 


59 


Offer Isaac there for a Burnt Offering on the Mountain. 

termined to make a trial of the strength of Abraham’s faith, which should 
show how truly he was devoted to His service. Accordingly God called 
him and said : “ Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou 
lovest, and get thee to the land of Moriah ; and offer him there for a 
burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” 

Abraham fully understood the terrible meaning of this command, 
and though to kill his only son would have fairly wrung his loving heart 
with agony, he knew that even in the most terrible moments of his wrath 
God is merciful and moves in mysterious ways, and he hastened to do 
that which was bidden. 

The Bible tells us that early in the morning he arose, and saddling 
up an ass he took two young men to gather wood for the burnt offering, 
and with Isaac he repaired to the spot on the side of a 
mountain to make the offering as commanded. When the Behold the fire 
wood had been gathered he laid it upon Isaac, who carried and thc wood * 
it to the place chosen. As they walked along together 
Isaac asked his father where was the lamb for the offering, but Abraham 
only replied, u My son, God himself will provide alamb.” 

When they reached the place to which God had directed them, 
Abraham built an altar and laid the wood, after which he bound Isaac 
and put him upon the pile, then drawing the large knife that was in his 
girdle, he was upon the point of plunging it into his innocent and 
beloved son when God arrested his arm and said, “ Abraham ! Abraham ! ” 
and Abraham answered, “ Here am I.” And the Lord spoke : “ Lay not 
thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him ; for now I 
know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine 
only son, from me.” 

As Abraham looked up he saw a ram which was fast in a thicket by 
its horns, and he took the ram, and killing it, offered it upon the altar 
instead of his son, which was acceptable to God, who was so well pleased 
with the faith of Abraham that He blessed him again, and renewed the 
promises before made to him. Abraham was so overjoyed at this happy 
deliverance of his son that he called the place of offering Jehovah-jireh 
( The Lord will provide ). 


60 And after this Abraham Buried Sarah his Wife in the Cave . 

When Abraham returned from making his offering he prepared to 
remove from Beersheba to a country northeast, but in the land of Canaan. 

His herds of cattle were now very great and his possessions 

In thy seed 

shall the of gold and silver were larger than those of any other man 
nations be thereabout, so that it required a great number of servants, 
camels and asses to transport his goods. In those days 
people commonly dwelt in tents, especially those who followed pastoral 
pursuits, and when their herds were large, like those of Abraham, removals 
from place to place were frequent in search of new pasturage, and it was this 
fact, no doubt, which made Abraham change his place of living so often. 

It was long after Abraham’s removal to Hebron that Sarah, his 
beloved wife, fell sick and died, at which time she was one hundred and 

twenty-seven years of age. The loss of this good woman, 

am a stranger wa ]k ec t with her husband so many years in the 

path of righteousness, was deplored greatly, not only by 

Abraham, but by the people about Hebron as well, for we read that when 
Abraham asked for a sepulchre in which to bury Sarah the people 
answered that he might bury her in any of their sepulchres that he chose. 
It was not the custom at that time to bury the dead in the ground, as we 
do now, the practice being to deposit the body in an excavation, usually 
of rock, the door to which was a large stone, and such excavation served 
as a sepulchre for an entire family. This proffer to Abraham was there- 
fore one which showed how highly esteemed were both himself and wife 
by the people among whom he had recently settled. 

Instead of accepting the very kind offer made him, Abraham chose 
a cave which was in the end of a field owned by a man named Ephron. 
So he made an offer to buy the cave ; but Ephron thought no less of 
Abraham and Sarah than did his neighbors, and he accordingly offered 
to .give both the cave and field to Abraham. This generosity affected 
Abraham greatly, for he perceived that all the people were deeply attached 
to him, but he refused to accept the place as a gift, and Ephron was 
finally induced to receive four hundred shekels ($250) for the cave, and 
in this he deposited the body of Sarah, intending that this now sacred 
place should, in due time, become the depository of his own. 


Thou shall go unto my Country and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac. 61 

Up to the time of purchasing the Cave of Macphelah (meaning double 
cave\ as the burial place of Sarah was called, although God had promised 
to give him the whole of Canaan as an inheritance, Abra- unto Abraham 
ham had not owned even the smallest parcel of ground at for a posses - 
any place where he had pitched his tent. It was, no doubt, 
this reason that prompted Abraham to buy, rather than to receive as a 
gift, the cave which Ephron tendered, though the desire to own a 
sepulchre, which should be the exclusive depository of the bodies of 
himself and near kinsmen, possibly actuated him quite as much. This 
cave did afterward become the sepulchre not only of his own and wife’s 
remains, but also of the bodies of Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, Jacob 
and Leah, his wife, and of Joseph. The sepulchre still exists under the 
Hebron mosque, and is pointed out to all visitors to that region, and is 
the shrine to which many pious pilgrimages are made. 

It would appear, from reading the sacred records, that after the 
burial of Sarah, Abraham returned to Beersheba, and sought the marriage 
of his son Isaac. Although everywhere in Canaan Abraham He shall send 
was treated with the greatest kindness, yet he bitterly His angel 
opposed Isaac marrying any of the women of that country, before thee - 

and would be reconciled to no other than a woman who should be of 
his own kindred. He therefore called his head servant and told him to 
take ten camels and to load them with fine presents and go to the city 
of Haran, which was in Mesopotamia (where Abraham formerly lived), 
in quest of a suitable woman to become his son’s wife. 

The servant did all things as Abraham had commanded him, and 
departed with the ten loaded camels. After many days of traveling he 
came to the outskirts of Haran in the evening, and desiring to rest 
himself before going into the city, he caused the camels to kneel down 
by a well which he found and to which he knew many women of the 
place came to draw water. The servant then offered a prayer to God, 
asking that he be directed in fulfilling the wishes of his master, and 
said, “ Behold, I stand here by the well of water ; . . . and let it 
come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy 
pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink ; and she shall say, Drink, and I 


62 


Behold , I Stand here by the Well of Waler . 



will give thy camels drink also ; let the same be she that Thou hast 
appointed for Thy servant Isaac ; and thereby shall I know that Thou 
hast showed kindness unto my master.” 

Directly after the servant had ceased praying a beautiful woman came 
to the well to fill her pitcher, whom the servant accosted and asked that 

she w r ould let down the pitcher and 
allow him to drink therefrom. The 
woman replied most graciously and 
offered water to the servant and to his 
camels also, where- 
upon the servant 
saw that she was 
the one selected 
by the Lord to be 
a wife to Isaac. 
When the camels 
had done drinking 
the servant took 
some presents 
from the bag which 
he had brought, 
and, offering them 
to the woman, 
asked her name 
and if there was 
room in her fa- 
ther’s house to 
give lodging to 
himself and those 
who came with 
him. She an- 
swered ’that she 

was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nalior, and that her mother’s 
name was Milcah, whose house was large enough to lodge him, with 






REBEKAH AND ISAAC. 


The Lord Before Whom I Walk will Send His Angel with Thee. 63 

stables to accommodate his camels. So she invited him to come to her 
father’s house, and ran before him to apprise her mother that strangers 
were coming to lodge with them. As she went toward the house she met 
her brother, Laban, who, seeing the presents which his sister, whose 
name was Rebekah, had received, went to the servant at the well and 
said to him, “ Come in, thou blessed of the Lord : wherefore standest 
thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” 

When the servant came within the house he was offered meat for 
himself and provender for his camels, but before he would seat himself 
to eat, he told them he must first reveal the purpose of his errand. So 
he told them all that Abraham had commanded him to do, 
whereupon Laban and Bethuel said that he must have Behold, Rebekah 
been directed by God, so they commanded the servant to ls before thee - 
take Rebekah and go back to Abraham that she might 
become the wife of Isaac. When the servant had thus found all ‘accom- 
plished as his master had wished, he drew forth the presents that he 
had brought and gave to Rebekah a large number of gold and silver 
ornaments, besides many pieces of costly raiment, nor did he withhold pres- 
ents from Laban and Bethuel, for to each he gave many precious articles. 

When they had feasted, the servant desired to return at once to Abra- 
ham with Rebekah ; Laban and his mother, however, begged him to 
remain with them for so much as ten days, but the servant told them 
not to hinder him from going forthwith. So they asked Rebekah if she 
was ready to depart with the servant, and she answered, “ I will go.” 

The departure from Haran was made on the day following the ser- 
vant’s arrival, so that the camels had little rest, but they traveled slowly, 
returning by a different route from that taken on the first journey. 

Isaac was not living with his father when this event transpired, for 
the Bible tells us that he was sojourning at Lahai-roi, which was in the 
extreme southern part of Palestine. But as the caravan was returning to 
Beersheba Isaac was also going to the same place, though he did not 
know that a wife was being chosen for him who was at that time 
drawing near to his father’s house to celebrate her marriage with him. 
As the caravan approached toward Lahai-roi, Rebekah saw Isaac walking 


64 He Took Rebekah and she Became his Wife , and he Loved her. 

through a field, and said, “ What man is that who comes to meet us ? ” 
The servant seeing that it was Isaac, replied that it was his master, where- 
upon she covered her face with a veil. When Isaac came near, the ser- 
vant met him and told him all that had transpired, and that he had brought 
Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac was forty years of age at this time, but he 
had been without comfort since the day of his mother’s death, grieving 
continually for her. When he wedded Rebekah, however, joy returned to 
him, for the moment that he had beheld her face he loved her greatly. 

After the marriage of Isaac, Abraham, who was now very old, gave 
him all that he had, and made him rich in worldly possessions. It is 
probable that this gift was made by will, rather than given to Isaac to 
hold at once before his father’s death, for Abraham married again, taking 
a woman whose name was Keturah, and by her had children, by whom he 
became the father of the Keturah Arabs, but these children were not per- 
mitted to share in the inheritance with Isaac, being cut off as was Ishmael. 

We are told that Abraham died at the age of one hundred and seventy- 
five years, but it is not realized where he was residing at the time of his 
death, though the inference is that he was still at Beer- 

There was 

Abraham buried, sheba. Isaac and Ishmael met at his funeral, and together 
and Sarah his paid the last sad duty of preparing their father’s remains 
for burial. Regarding the wishes which Abraham expressed 
at the time of laying away his beloved wife Sarah, they deposited his 
body beside her in the cave of Machpelah, which is even at this day 
pointed out to travelers in the Holy Land as a place second in sacred- 
ness to that of Golgotha. 

Few references are made by the Bible to Ishmael after his last meeting 
with Isaac at the funeral of Abraham, no more than to indicate that he 
had no settled habitation, and followed warlike pursuits, like the Keturah 
Arabs, who are true to this inherited instinct even to this day. He sur- 
vived his father just fifty years, and died at the age of one hundred and 
thirty-seven years. The place of his death or burial is not recorded. 

Of all the holy characters described in the Bible, none are more 
divine-like than Abraham ; indeed, he was the only one of the patriarchs 
and prophets who never departed from God’s commands, or lifted his spirit, 


And Esau Came from the Field , and He was Faint . 65 

even in thought or deed, in rebellion against the commands or wishes of 
his Lord. The offer to sacrifice his only lawfully begotten and beloved 
son, in loving obedience to that call which he so promptly recognized, is 
the most exalted example of trustful faith ever exhibited by man, which 
was rewarded by the richest of all blessings, that God gives to those who 
serve Him best and whom He loves most. 

Isaac continued to dwell at Lahai-roi after his father’s death, but it 
was not until many years after his marriage that God blessed him and 
gave him twin-sons, which he named Jacob and Esau. As the boys grew 
up Esau became a hunter, like Ishmael, and Jacob was a dweller in tents, 
by which, we presume, he followed pastoral pursuits like his grandfather 
Abraham did. It happened that the two sons were not equally liked by 
their parents, for Rebekah loved Jacob, while Esau was Isaac’s favorite, 
and this favoritism at length led to great trouble. One day Esau returned 
from the hunt very tired and almost dead with hunger, and seeing Jacob 
preparing a pottage of lentils, which was a plant somewhat Sc | lmcthis 
like a pea, he said to his brother, “ Feed me, I pray thee, day thy birth- 
with that red pottage, for I am faint.” Jacob, perceiving ri s ht * 
how great was Esau’s hunger, took advantage of his brother’s necessity, 
for, instead of freely giving him food, as he should have done, he offered 
to give him the pottage only upon condition that Esau should surrender 
to him his birthright. This was a hard bargain, but Esau replied, 
“ Behold, I am at the point to die ; and what profit shall this birthright 
be to me?” Then Jacob made his brother swear to renounce his birth- 
right and give it to him, which being done Esau was permitted to eat of 
the bread and pottage, and having satisfied his great hunger he then went 
away. 

Soon after this event there was a famine in the land which Isaac 
thought to escape by going down to Egypt, but God told him to stay 
and He would fulfill the covenant He had made with Abraham. So 
Isaac remained and sowed seed on his land, which yielded to him a hundred 
fold. So prosperous was he that he soon became the richest man in all 
the country thereabout, which greatly vexed the Philistines, among whom 
he dwelt, and in their exceeding envy they filled up all the wells that 


5 


66 And Isaac's Servants Digged in the Valley and found there a Well. 



had been dug by his father, and that were upon his land. As Isaac had 
great herds of cattle and camels, and as wells were the only source of 
water supply in that country, this act of his envious neighbors did him 
such harm that he complained to the king, whose name was Abimelech. 
But the king, instead of punishing his persecutors, justified their wrong- 
doing by telling Isaac to leave the country. Thus was Isaac compelled 

to move to 
another place, 
and he settled 
in a valley 
called Gerar, 
not far dis- 
tant. Here he 
set to work 


? iM wy 


fm 


and reopened 
another well 
which had been 
in use during 
his father’s time 
. but had been 

filled up by the 
Philistines. 

When this well, or spring rather, began to flow, the people of the valley 
claimed the water was their own, so that he was again forced to move. 
For a second time he dug another well, but they drove him from- this one 
also. His third attempt, however, had a happier ending, for when he 
opened a well at Relioboth the people no longer vexed him, seeing that 
his success must be due to the special favor of God. 


JACOB DECEIVING ISAAC. 


Behold now , / Old , / know not the Day of my Death. 67 

Abimelech was especially moved by Isaac’s wonderful prosperity, and 
seeing now bow desirable a thing was his friendship, the king, with one 
of his friends, and captain in his army, went to call upon 
Isaac. When they came into his presence Isaac said to the Thc Lord hath 

made room 

king, “ Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me and f or us. 
have sent me away from you ?” To which Abimelech replied, 

“ We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee ; and we said, Let there 
now be an oath betwixt ns, and let ns make a covenant with thee.” 
Though Isaac had been greatly wronged by the king and his people, he 
was nevertheless, forgiving, and thereupon entered into a covenant of 
friendship with the king, who feasted and drank at Isaac’s table. 

After Esau had bartered his birthright to Jacob he went away, but 
beyond this the Bible tells us nothing further about him until he was 
forty years of age, when he was married to Judith, the daughter of Beeri, 
a Hittite, and also to Bashemath, who was likewise a Hittite. This 
marriage greatly distressed Isaac, for he did not believe in polygamy, not- 
withstanding it was a common practice of the time, and thought that his son 
in marrying two women had committed an abominable sin. 

But the marriage of Esau was only the beginning of Isaac’s trouble, 
for soon after he became stricken with blindness. Notwithstanding the 
grief which Esau had caused him, Isaac seemed to have lost 
none of his love for him. One day Isaac called to Esau Make me savor y 

meat such as 

and told him to take his bow and go into the field and kill , , ovc 
for him a deer (venison) and prepare a savory dish for him 
to eat, promising him his blessing. Rebekah heard Isaac promise a 
blessing to Esau, and resolved to take advantage of her poor blind 
husband by so deceiving him that her favorite son Jacob should receive 
the blessing instead of Esau. To accomplish her very unnatural design 
Rebekah went to Jacob and told him what his father had said, and 
commanded him to bring two young kids with which to prepare savory 
meats to take to his father. Jacob did as she had ordered, but not 
without misgiving, for he said to his mother: “Behold, Esau, my 
brother, is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man ; my father, peradventure 
will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a 


68 Thy Brothei' Came with Sub til ty, and hath taken away thy Blessing. 

curse upon me and not a blessing.” But Rebekah replied that the curse 
would be upon her, and insisted. 

After Rebekah had cooked the kids as she thought Isaac would best 
like them, she clothed Jacob with some of Esau’s coats and covered his 
hands and neck with the skins of the kids, so that to 
^ son ry I saac ’ s touch he might appear hairy like Esau. Taking the 
meat as his mother had ordered, he carried it to his father 
and said, “ I am Esau thy first-born ; I have done according as thou 
badest me ; arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul 
may bless me.” Then 'Isaac called Jacob to him that he might feel him, 
for he mistrusted his voice. But when he had felt him he said, u The 
voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau,” so he 
blessed him. When he had eaten, Isaac again called Jacob to him, 
being still suspicious that he was being deceived, and smelled his raiment. 
This satisfied him, and he poured out the blessing upon Jacob which he 
had intended to give to Esau. 

Scarcely had his father ceased blessing Jacob when Esau returned 
from hunting, and preparing a dish of meat carried it to Isaac, and 
begged him to eat the offering of his first-born. When he had spoken 
with Esau, Isaac knew how he had been deceived, and wept with grief 
that having given his blessing and the best things to Jacob, he could 
not bestow upon Esau what was in his heart to grant. Esau complained 
loudly, and justly, against Jacob, who had now supplanted him twice by 
employing the most wicked artifices. 

Isaac tried to comfort his wronged son by telling him that though 
Jacob should now become his master, he should yet prosper greatly, and 
while serving his brother in battle would break the yoke, or mastership, 
which Jacob held over him. 

But this promise, though somewhat consoling, did not abate Esau’s 
anger toward his brother, for he declared that after his father’s death he 
would avenge the wrong done him by killing Jacob. This threat so 
greatly alarmed Rebekah that she told Jacob to go away to her brother 
Laban and remain with him a while until Esau’s anger should abate. 
Isaac also desired the departure of Jacob lest Esau should kill him, but 



Thou Shalt Not Take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan. 69 

before going away Jacob came to his father for his blessing again. This 
Isaac did not withhold, for he still loved him, though not excusing his 
fault. He charged Jacob to go to Haran, and there to take a wife from 
the daughters of Laban. 


VISION OF JACOB’S LADDER. 

In obedience to the wishes of his father, Jacob departed on his 
journey alone, taking the same route which was traveled by Abraham 


70 


Behold the Angels of God Ascending and Descending on it. 


when he first passed through Canaan on 
his way from Beersheba to Haran, which 
-L had now become a main highway. As 
he came in sight of the place which had 
been his grandfather’s encampment, it was 
late in the evening, and here he lay down 
to rest for the night. Evidently Jacob 
carried few if any necessaries with him on 
' the journey, for we are told he gathered some 

W stones together to serve him as a pillowy on which 
to lay his head. Here, in this uncomfortable place, 
he went to sleep, but never was rest of man more pleasant 
than that which Jacob had that night. As he slept he had 
a wondrous dream, wherein appeared to him a vision that 
revealed the glory of heaven and the blessings which God 
had in store for him. He saw in the dream a great ladder, 
resting its foot upon the earth and reaching into heaven, 
and upon it were ascending and descending radiant angels. 
Succeeding this vision was another in which God revealed 
Himself standing above the ladder, and Jacob heard these 
words: “I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and 
the God of Isaac : the land whereon thou liest to thee will 
I give it.” 

When Jacob awakened he knew that God had taken 
this means of manifesting His love and provident care, and 
he said, “This is none other than the house of God, and this is the 
gate of heaven.” So he took the stones which had ^ f\ 

served him as a pillow and set them up as an altar, and 
poured oil upon it, and made a promise to 
serve God thenceforth, and he called the place 
Bethel {House of God). 

After this " 

pious performance ^ 

Jacob continued |U 




Behold Rachel , his Daughter , Cometh with the Sheep. 71 

on his journey, meeting with no further important incident until he reached 
Padan-Aram (Haran), which was the home of his mother’s relatives. As 
he came to the outskirts of the city he saw a well, or more 
properly a spring, by which were lying three flocks of sheep ye ? 

that were waiting to be watered by the shepherds. He asked 
the men the name of the city to which they belonged, and they answered 
that they were from Haran. Then he fell into further conversation with 
them, asking if they knew Laban, and if he was well, etc. But as he was 
talking, Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban, approached with another 
herd of sheep. The spring by which the shepherds were waiting was 
closed with a large stone, which kept the waters from being muddied or 
used except at certain intervals in the day when the flocks of the sur- 
rounding neighborhood were all brought together to be watered at one 
time. Then the stone was removed and the herds permitted to drink. 
When Rachel arrived all the flocks were gathered, hers being the last 
to arrive, and Jacob went down and rolled the stone from the spring’s 
mouth and helped Rachel water her sheep. 

Rachel is represented as having been a beautiful girl, and it is there- 
fore no surprise to learn that Jacob fell at once in love with her, nor 
did he wait long before beginning his suit, for the Bible surely thou art 
tells us that he kissed her beside the spring. After thus my bone and 
warmly saluting her, he told Rachel that he was her kinsman, 
come to visit her father. She was greatly pleased by his favors, and ran 
before him to tell her father of his coming. Laban was no less pleased 
to receive Jacob’s visit, for he hastened out to greet him and kissed him 
many times tenderly. 

Laban had two daughters, the elder of whom was named Leah, and 
Rachel was the younger. It is said that Leah was tender-eyed, and it is 
supposed that she was not comely in appearance, while Rachel R aC hci was 
was perfect in every feature, and so beautiful that Jacob beautiful and 
could not restrain his exceedingly great desire to marry her wc,, favorcd * 
at once. He therefore asked of Laban her hand in marriage, but this his 
uncle was not so quick to grant, being of a mercenary nature, who desired 
to profit by his daughter’s comeliness. Perceiving what Laban desired, 


72 


And Jacob Served Seven Years for Rachel. 

Jacob offered to serve him for a period of seven years for his daughter, 
to which proposition Laban consented. So great was Jacob’s love for 
Rachel that his seven years of service u seemed to him but a few days.” 

When the period of his engagement had expired, he asked Laban to 
give him Rachel, whereupon the crafty uncle brought Leah, heavily 
veiled, to him in the evening, whom Jacob married under the belief that 
it was his beloved Rachel. In the morning he discovered the deception 
that had been practiced, and asked Laban why he had not fulfilled his 
agreement, to which Laban made reply, “ It must not be so done in our 
country, to give the younger before the first-born ; we will give thee 
Rachel also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven 
other years,” Although this action of Laban was very unjust, it was but 
a counterpart of the perfidy and deception which Jacob himself had prac- 
ticed on his brother Esau. 

The hardship which Laban’s second proposition imposed upon Jacob 
was promptly accepted, for what will not a man do to win the woman he 
truly loves? So Jacob served seven more years and then wedded Rachel, 
but after this marriage Laban prevailed on him to remain six years longer 
for a portion of the produce of the flocks, which were to be distinguished 
by certain marks. 

After Jacob’s last service, Laban awarded him a portion of the cattle, 
sheep and goats, which he had helped to raise, and, getting his goods 
_ , . together, he set out with his two wives, Leah and Rachel, for 

my affliction the land of his birth, and to his father, who was still living, 
and rebuked Three days after his departure, Laban, believing that there 
had been an unfair division of the herds, and that Jacob had 
received more than was his due, induced several of his neighbors to join 
him, and together they started in pursuit of Jacob, whom they overtook, 
after seven days’ journey, at the Mount of Gilead. But the night before 
Laban came up with Jacob, God appeared to him in a dream and com- 
manded him not to speak to Jacob, either good or bad, but this injunction 
was not literally obeyed, for when he met Jacob he accused him of stealing 
away his two daughters, and reproached him for not giving due notice of 
his going that he might have kissed his daughters and sent them away 


This Heap and this Pillar which I have Cast Betwixt Thee and Me . 73 



with mirth and song. He again said to Jacob that though it was in his 
power to do him great injury, he would nevertheless spare him, but that 
he must return the gods (the things) which he had stolen from him. 
Jacob replied to him by saying: “With whomsoever thou findest thy 
gods, let him not live.” Then Laban 
made a search of all that Jacob had, but 
was unable to find any of the gods which 
he charged had been stolen. After much 
dispute between 
them, Laban at 
length offered to 
make a cove- 
nant with Jacob 
whereby they 
should be for- 
ever afterward 
friends, as be- 
came their re- 
lations to each f 
other. They ac- 
cordingly gath- 
ered a heap of 
stones as a wit- 
ness of their covenant, and made a sac- 
rifice upon the ^ - mount and afterward 

feasted in fellowship. In the morning Laban blessed Jacob, and kissing 
his daughters, returned again to Haran, his home. 

As Jacob journeyed forward he met a host of angels who stood in 
his way, but did not address him, as they served only as a sign that God 
was still with him. He therefore called the place of meeting with the 
angels Mahanaim, meaning the two camps or hosts. As he was now passing 
through the land of Edom, he learned that Esau was at the head of an 
army of many hundred men at Mount Seir, and he was greatly troubled 
lest his wronged brother would now fulfill the threat which he had made 


JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE 
ANGEL. 


74 And there Wrestled a Man with Him Until the Breaking of the Day. 

upon discovering the deceit which robbed him of his father’s blessing. 
To conciliate his brother he sent messengers bearing many presents of 
cattle, goats and sheep to Esau, and waited to learn what report they would 
make. Upon their return the messengers told him that Esau would come 
with four hundred men to meet him, but they were unable to disclose 
with what purpose. Fearful that Esau’s intentions were hostile, Jacob 
divided his herds and goods into two parts, and said, a If Esau come to 
one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall 
escape.” 

When he had thus prepared for the meeting, Jacob prayed to God 
to deliver him from the hand of his brother. At night he was left alone 
in meditation, expecting Esau to come, as he had told his messengers, in 
the morning; and while thus communing a man appeared to him, and 
the two “ wrestled ” until the break of day, when the man, who proved 
to be the Lord, touched Jacob’s thigh and immediately it became out of 
joint. But Jacob would not release the spirit until it blessed him. Then 
the Lord gave him his blessing, and changed his name from Jacob to 
that of Israel. And Jacob then knew that he had the favor of God, and 
so called the place Peniel, saying, “ I have seen God face to face and my 
life is preserved.” 

Notwithstanding the Lord’s assurances, Jacob was not yet wholly 
without fear, for when he saw Esau coming he divided his family so that 
the handmaids and children were in front, and Rachel and 

Bowed himself 

to the ground Joseph, his son, who was born while he was in service to 
seven times. Laban, in the rear, so that in case of an attack being made 
those he most loved would be the most likely to escape. But all his 
fears were soon dismissed, for as Esau came near he ran to meet Jacob 
and fell on his neck and kissed him as a beloved brother. After this 
happy meeting the brothers were both reconciled, and each proferred help 
to the other, which neither requiring, Esau returned to Seir, while Jacob 
continued his journey to Succoth, where he built a house and made stalls, 
or booths, for his cattle. 

While Jacob was serving with Laban he had four wives, two of whom 
had been handmaidens to Leah and Rachel, and these several wives bore 


Shechem Spake to his Father , saying , this Damsel to Wife 75 

him twelve sons, the youngest of whom was Joseph, the only son of 
Rachel until after his departure from Haran, whose history is perhaps 
more interesting than that of any other character in the Old Testament. 
When Jacob had lived a few years at Succoth and Shalem, God told him 
to remove to Bethel, where he saw the vision when going to visit Laban, 
and to make an altar there and worship the true God. It appears from 

the records that the people who dwelt in 

Shalem and the country thereabouts were 



MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU. 

idolaters, nor can we help suspecting, from the character of the narrative, 
that Jacob, or Israel, was also. 

When Jacob prepared to depart for Bethel he ordered his household, 
and all who were with him, to put away the strange gods that were with 
them and to change their garments. In obedience to this command they 
brought him their gods, which he hid under an oak that grew in Shec- 
ham. While stopping at Shalem Jacob’s life had not been a happy one, 
for among other indignities and griefs he suffered was a very great one 
in the abduction of his daughter Dinah by a prince of the country. But 
afterward the prince made amends for his folly by marrying Dinah, as 
Jacob had desired he should, and there was peace between the king 
(Hamor) and Jacob. Among the sons of Jacob, however, there were two, 
Simeon and Levi, who were resolved to avenge the wrong done their 


76 Ye have Troubled me to Make me to Stink among the Inhabitants. 


sister, regardless of their father’s will ; and, according^, they stole in 
upon Hamor, the king, and his son, the husband of Dinah, and killed 
_ . them both with the sword ; they also bore Dinah away, 

city boldly and after which the other sons of Jacob fell upon the town and 
SlC mat!s the massacred many of the people, and carried away a large 
number of women and children captives, besides taking all 
the cattle, sheep and household plunder they could find. 

Jacob was intensely grieved at this outrage of his sons, and put a 
curse upon them. The memory of this wrong no doubt caused him 
constant pain, and he was therefore glad that God had ordered him to 
remove from Shalem, but he was destined to meet with much greater 



DEATH OF ISAAC. 

sorrow in the new land 
of his inheritance. As 
soon as he reached Bethel Jacob 
built an altar, and called the place 


And Jacob set up a Pillar in the Place where he had Talked . 77 

El-Bethel, because it was there that God had appeared to him. Directly 
after the altar was built, Deborah, Rachel’s nurse, died, and was buried 
beneath a “ weeping-oak.” 

Here God appeared to Jacob again, and told him that his name 
should henceforth be Israel and not Jacob, as it had continued to be 
after his first command, and God repeated to Jacob the covenants He had 
made with Abraham and Isaac, to give him all the land and to make 
him so great that 
there should be many 
kings among his de- 
scendants. 

Then Jacob set 
up a pillar in the 
place where he had 
talked with God and 
poured a drink-offer- 
ing upon it, and 
called the sacred 
place Bethel. When 
Jacob had thus per- 
formed the vows 
which he had made 
there, after seeing 

EABAN SEARCHING FOR THE STOLEN IMAGES. 

the vision of heaven, 

he journeyed southward, intending to dwell with his father, Isaac, at 
Mamre, near Hebron. As they were near Ephrath, which was the ancient 
name of Bethlehem, Rachel was seized with labor, and died in giving 
birth to a boy babe whom she called Ben-oni ( son of my sorrow ), but 
Jacob changed his name to Benjamin (son of the right hand). Here 
Rachel was buried, and upon her grave Jacob set a large stone, which 
so long marked the spot that in modern years a tomb was erected over 
the grave, which remains to-day a conspicuous object among the sacred 
mausoleums of Bethlehem. 




78 And His Sons Esau and Jacob Buried Him . 

Jacob then continued his journey southward until he reached the 
dwelling place of Isaac his father, but had not "long been there when 
Isaac died, being one hundred and eighty years of age. At the time of 


JACOB DEPARTED WITH HIS FAMII/V AND WENT SOUTHWARD. 

his death it chanced that Esau was also at Mamre, or near there, for 
he and Jacob buried their father. Esau afterward went into another 
country because he and Jacob were so rich with cattle that the land 
could not sustain the possessions of both. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his brethren . 



URING the time that Jacob lived in the 
region of Mamre an incident occurred, 
tragic in its first appearance but 
benign in its conclusion, that 
affected the life of Joseph mightily ; 
to which fortune, indeed, must be 
credited his subsequent elevation to 
the premiership of Egypt. At the 
time that Jacob moved to this 
district, Joseph was about seventeen 
years of age, the youngest of twelve 
brothers. He was a precocious child, 
* not without his faults, but from the 

beginning was blessed with such favors as fall to the lot of few boys. 
After Rachel’s death Jacob petted and loved him more fondly even than 
before, and this partiality no doubt served to make of him a spoiled child. 
His disposition was such that he became a tale-bearer upon the actions 
of his brothers ; besides the superior beauty of his clothes aroused their 
jealousy. In addition to this, young Joseph was a dreamer, who insisted 
upon giving such interpretations to his sleep-visions as displayed his ambi- 
tion to become a master, so to speak, over his brothers, so that he became 
offensive to them. 

Of the twelve sons which Jacob had, ten of them had charge of his 
immense herds, while Joseph and Benjamin were kept at home in the 
favor of their father, having nothing to do save of their own will. But 
Joseph frequently went out in the fields to his brothers and would as 
often return to his father with evil reports as to what they said or did. 

(79) 


8o 


Let Us Slay Him , and Cast Him into Some Pit. 


So angered were they by Joseph’s tale-bearing that they resolved to kill 
him upon the next favorable opportunity. Soon after this wicked 
determination had been made, Jacob sent Joseph out to find 
^dreamer* ^is brothers and to bring him back a report of how they 
cometh. were discharging their duties. Joseph went to the pasturage, 
where he expected to find them tending the herds, but they 
were not to be seen, so he wandered about in quest of them until he met 
a man who told him his brothers had departed for Dothan, which was 
not a great distance from the usual grazing grounds. Joseph set off at 
once for Dothan, where he found his brothers ; but as he drew near the 
resolve which they had before made came stronger than ever upon them, 
and some of the brothers said they should slay him and cast his body 
into a pit, and report to their father that he had been devoured by some 
wild beast. No doubt they would have thus killed Joseph had it not been 
for Reuben, who was a son of Jacob by his wife Leah, who begged his 
brothers not to shed blood, but to rid themselves of Joseph by casting 
him into a pit that was in the wilderness thereabouts. 

Reuben’s advice appeared good to his brothers, for when Joseph came 
up they stripped him of his coat of many colors and threw him into a 
deep but dry pit, where they left him helpless. After so 
doing and having sat down to eat their noon meal, a 
caravan of Midiauite merchants, from Arabia, came in sight 
on their way to Egypt with Syrian spices. Judah, also a son of Leah, 
now proposed to his brothers that they sell Joseph, rather than allow him 
to die of hunger in the pit, though his elder brother Reuben had resolved 
secretly to rescue him when his brothers should go away. Judah’s 
proposition found favor with all the brothers, so that when the traveling 
merchants were about arrived the brothers drew Joseph up out of the 
pit and sold him to the Midianite merchants for twenty shekels ($12.50) 
of silver. 

To conceal their wicked action from Jacob, the brothers killed a kid, 
in the blood of which they dipped the pretty coat they had stripped 
from Joseph, and bearing this to their father, as an evidence of the tale 
they were to tell, declared to him that Joseph had been devoured by a 


They sold him 
unto Potiphar. 



/ will go Down into the Grave unto My Son Mour ning . 81 

wild beast. This dreadful news bore heavily upon Jacob, who refused to 
be comforted, and in his grief he tore his clothes and said he should go 
to his grave mourning for his son. 

The Midianite merchants, who were Ishmaelites, descendants of 
Abraham’s son Ishmael, took Joseph and carried him to Egypt, where 


6 


JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN TO THE ISHMAEUTES. 


82 


And They Dreamed a Dream , Both of Them . 



they sold him to a captain in Pharaoh’s army, named Potiphar. In the 
service of this officer Joseph continued for some time and with such 
faithfulness that Potiphar at length made him chief over all his other 
servants and showed him many favors. 

Potiphar’s wife was a worldly woman who, seeing that Joseph was 
a handsome youug man, became jealous of him because he would not pay 
her such attentions as she solicited, and to avenge the rejection of her 
wicked proposals she falsely accused Joseph to her husband and had him 

cast into prison, where he remained for 
two years. During this time his actions 
were so gentle that he won the favor of 
the prison keeper, who commit- 
ted to Joseph’s care all the other 
prisoners. After Joseph had 
been in prison 
for some time 
it happened 
that Pharaoh 
became great- 
ly angered at 
some offence 
committed by 
his chief but- 
ler and his 
chief baker 

and cast them into prison with Joseph, and so he came to have charge of 
them also. One morning, upon the awakening of the two offending officers 
of the king, they told Joseph of the dreams which each had had during 
the night, and which caused them much grief, for they believed that 
their dreams were indicative of some great punishment which Pharaoh 
would inflict upon them. The chief butler described his vision as follows : 
“ In my dream, behold a vine was before me ; and in the vine were three 
branches : and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth ; 
and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes; and Pharaoh’s cup was 


JOSEPH INTERPRETING THE CHIEF BUTTER’S DREAM. 


Pharaoh Dreamed , and Behold , he stood by the River. 83 

in my hand : and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, 
and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.” 

When Joseph had heard the butler’s dream he gave him the interpre- 
tation by declaring that in three days Pharaoh would deliver him from 
prison, and restore him again to his former place as chief butler. After 
showing the butler the meaning of his dream, Joseph begged him, upon the 
fulfillment thereof, that he would tell Pharaoh of the injustice of his 
imprisonment, and that he had been sold into bondage by his wicked 
brothers, hoping thus to secure his own release. 

When Joseph had given an interpretation of the butler’s dream, the 
chief baker described the vision which he also had and requested an 
interpretation thereof. In his dream he said he bore three baskets on his 
head, setting one within the other, and that in the topmost one there was a 
great variety of baked meats, which the birds flew upon and ate. Then 
Joseph told him that in three days Pharaoh would call him from prison 
and hang him upon a tree, and that while thus hanging the birds would 
come and eat the flesh from his body. 

On the third day thereafter, as Joseph had prophesied, according to 
the dreams, Pharaoh gave a large dinner to his servants in honor of his 
birthday, and pardoned his chief butler and restored him as was predicted, 
but the chief baker was hanged. 

Although everything had been fulfilled according to the interpreta- 
tions made by Joseph, the chief butler did not keep his promise to tell 
Pharaoh of the wrongs which had been done the Hebrew 
youth, nor did he try to secure the release of Joseph, who Shew kmdncss 

J ... I pray thee 

continued languishing in prison nearly two years after the to me 
liberation of the butler. At the expiration of this period 
an incident occurred which was of the most portentous importance to 
Joseph, as it served to prove most conclusively his gift of revelation, 
and to establish him in Pharaoh’s favor as a man endowed with the 
blessings of God. This special incident was in the nature of a warning 
which God gave to Pharaoh in a dream, in which the king thought he 
stood beside a river, out of which rose seven fat cattle that fell to grazing 
in a meadow. Following the seven fat cattle were seven others that were 


8 4 


God shall give Pharaoh an Ansiver of Peace . 


lean and ill-favored, and these went also to the meadow beside the river, 
and ate up all the seven that were fat. This was Pharaoh’s first dream, 
but he fell asleep again and dreamed that he saw a field of corn, on the 
stalks of which grew seven large ears fully matured, but while looking 
upon these, other stalks grew out of the same ground, each of which 
bore seven blasted ears, and these thin and immature ears devoured those 
that were large and perfect. 

These two dreams so deeply troubled Pharaoh that he sent to all 
the magicians in Egypt that he might obtain an interpreter, but none of 
them were wise enough to tell him the significance of his 
Then Pharaoh Y [ s [ on As the desire of the king became noised about, the 

sent and 

called Joseph, chief butler remembered how Joseph had interpreted the 
dreams of himself and of the baker, so he went to Pharaoh 
and told him how truly Joseph had prophesied, and advised that he be 
sent for. 

The king immediately dispatched a messenger to bring Joseph to 
him, so the young Hebrew hastily shaved himself, changed his clothes 
and appeared before the king as he was bid. And when the young man 
came before the throne Pharaoh told him that he had heard of how he 
had interpreted dreams while in prison and asked him if he could under- 
stand and interpret all dreams. Joseph replied, “It is not in me; God 
shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” 

When Joseph had thus answered, Pharaoh related to him the two 
dreams which so troubled him whereupon Joseph gave him the interpre- 
tation as follows : The two dreams he pronounced as one in meaning, 
since they both presaged that the seven succeeding years would be seasons 
of great abundance throughout all Egypt, but the next seven years would be 
seasons of famine when the land would produce nothing, so that distress 
for food would prevail among all who did not take advantage of the 
seven years of plenty to fill their granaries and thus provide against the 
seven seasons of failure. 

Pharaoh perceived that Joseph had given him the true significance 
of his dreams, and determined to provide against the predicted famine by 
appointing Joseph the receiver of tithes and the collector of such portions 


And He Gathered up all the Food of the Seven Years. 


85 



of the crops as he might levy during the seven years of plenty. But as 
a mark of his great favor Pharaoh made Joseph ruler of all Egypt and 
put a gold chain about his neck and made him ride next to his own 
chariot, while the people were ordered to bow down to him. 

As all provision to guard against the coming famine had thus been 
given to Joseph to make, he set about his duty by ordering large store- 
houses to be built in all parts of the country, which he 

And Joseph 

filled by raising the royal impost of one-tenth on the produce gathered corn 
of the land to one-fifth, which was no hardship on the people as the sand of 
to pay, because for seven years the crops were so great that the sca * 
the people could hardly take care of them, and they were therefore inclined 
to wastefulness. 

True to Joseph’s predictions, the beginning of the second seven years 
was marked 
by a blasting 
of the crops ; 
which contin- 
ued until 
great want 
was felt 
throughout 
the land, and 
i m m e n s e 
numbers of 
people would 
have starved 
but for the 

beneficent provisions made by Joseph. He now opened 
the storehouses and from them supplied the wants of 
all who would come to buy. The famine was not confined to Egypt, but 
extended into Canaan Syria and other countries, where it was so dreadful 
that the people of those lands were compelled to come to Joseph to buy 
grain to avoid starvation. So large were the purchases made of Joseph 
during the first two years of the famine, that all the money of the 


JOSEPH, THE GOVERNOR 
OVER THE LAND. 


86 


Joseph's Ten Brothers Went Down to Buy Corn in Egypt. 


Egyptians and Canaanites had passed into the treasury of Pharaoh. The 
authority which Joseph thereafter exercised over the Egyptians was some- 
what despotic, though hardly so oppressive as we might expect it would 
be among a people that were noted for their custom of reducing the poor 
to slavery. The people who were no longer able to pay for the provisions 
they needed were removed from the country to the cities, but were still 
allowed to cultivate the lands, which had thus passed to Pharaoh, by a 
payment of one-fifth of the produce to the crown, and this hard condition 
caused the permanent loss of tenure of the land in Egypt. 

Jacob, who still lived in Canaan, though an extremely rich man, did 
not escape the terrible effects of the famine, and was forced to send also to 

Pharaoh for grain to feed his household 
and famishing herds. Many years had 
now passed since Joseph was sold into 
bondage, for at the time of the beginning 
of the famine he was nearly forty years 
of age, while at the time of his sale he 
was but seventeen. Yet in all these 
years Jacob had believed his son to be 
dead, having heard no word from him, nor 
did any of his sons reveal the secret of their wickedness, little caring 
what had become of the brother. 

When Jacob’s granaries were emptied he sent ten of his sons to 
Egypt to buy corn, but kept Benjamin, the youngest, with him, lest 
some harm might befall him, as he was now his father’s 
And Joseph saw favorite and consolation. When the ten brothers came to 
his brethren. Joseph he recognized all of them immediately, but they 
in turn did not know him, for they had never thought 
of their servant brother becoming a ruler over so great a country 
as Egypt. In order to confuse them, or test their fidelity, Joseph 
accused his brothers of being spies come from Canaan to observe the 
poverty and weakness of Egypt. To their protestations of denial 
Joseph answered that as one of the brothers had been kept by his father 
in Canaan, he would keep them in prison and treat them as spies until 



EGYPTIAN RING MONEY 


He took from Them Simeon and Bound Him Before Their Eyes , 87 

this one was also brought to him, So he cast all his brothers into 
prison, but on the third day he went to them and said that he knew the 
famine was severe in Canaan and that he would therefore 
permit nine of them to return, laden with grain, to their And hc turncd 

himself about 

father, but that he would retain one as a hostage for the arwJ wcpt 

bringing to him of their youngest brother. The brothers 

were very sorrowful because of these conditions, and became conscience 

stricken as Reuben reminded them how they had turned a deaf ear 

to the entreaties of Joseph when they sold him to the Midianite 

merchants. 

Joseph at length chose to hold Simeon, and accordingly bound him 
before his brothers and then sent the others away with their sacks filled 



EGYPTIAN HORSES AND CHARIOTS, AND INSPECTOR OF STANDING CORN. 


with corn; but he ordered that the money which the brothers had paid 
for the corn should be secretly placed in the sacks. As they journeyed 
back home with their asses laden with grain they stopped at noon-time 
to give their animals food, when to their astonishment, as they opened 
the sacks to get food for the asses, each one found the money that he 
had paid to Joseph in the mouth of the bag, and they believed that it 
was a miracle. 


88 


If Thou wilt Send Our Brother with Us We will Go Down. 


When the brothers reached home they told their father all that had 
happened to them, of how harshly the governor of Egypt had treated 
My son shall not them and how he had retained Simeon as a hostage for the 
go down with bringing to him of Benjamin. At this sad news Jacob was 
you * deeply distressed, for he could not bear to part with Ben- 
jamin. Reuben thereupon said to his father, “ Slay my two sons, if I 
bring him not to thee ; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him 
to thee again.” But Jacob would not consent. 

When the corn which they brought was all eaten, Jacob told his 
sons to go again into Egypt and buy more, but they replied that the 



departed again, with double money and presents, and took Benjamin with 
them. They journeyed on and soon came before Joseph, who commanded 


that they be brought in to dine with him. This order excited their fears 


afresh, because now they believed they were apprehended to be punished for 
not paying for the corn they had bought on the first visit, and so they told 
the steward of Joseph’s house of how they had found the money they had 
paid to Joseph tied up with the grain in their sacks after departing, and 
that they had therefore brought it back again. The steward assured 
them that there was no cause for alarm and that God had given them 
the treasure in their sacks. He then brought water for them to wash 


Joseph Said unto Them , What Deed is this that Ye have Done ? 89 

their feet and provender for their asses, after which Simeon was brought 
out to them. 

Joseph returned to his brothers at noon, and asked diligently about 
the health of his father, and then inquired if the young man was Benjamin. 
Finding it to be so, Joseph was so overjoyed that he had to He entered into 
hasten from his brothers to find a place to weep where they his chamber 
could not see him. When he returned to them again all the and wept there * 
brothers set before him the presents that they had brought, and then 
the tables were made ready for dinner : one table being set for Joseph, 
one for his brothers, and the third for the Egyptians that were invited. 
But as they began to eat, Joseph set dishes before them with his own 
hands, and before Benjamin he placed five times as much food as before 
the others, and they all drank and were merry. 

After the feast was over Joseph commanded his steward to fill up 
the sacks of his brother with corn, and into each place the money that 
they had paid for the grain, but into the sack of Benjamin he ordered 
the steward to put a silver cup. 

In the morning the brothers were sent on their way, but when they 
had got outside the city Joseph ordered his steward to set after them 
and to bring them back, and to charge them with stealing a silver cup 
and money also. The steward did as he was ordered, and when he came 
up with them he accused the brothers of offending his master by robbing 
him of a silver cup. They loudly protested their innocence, and freely 
offered to unloose their sacks that he might see they had none of the 
things which they were accused of stealing. So the steward searched the 
sacks, beginning with that of the eldest brother and ending with that of 
Benjamin, in whose sack he found the cup. 

Now were the brothers covered with confusion, knowing their 
innocence, and yet overwhelmed with the evidence of guilt, and they rent 
their clothes with grief, but saddled up their asses, and with their sacks they 
returned to Joseph, who was expecting them ; and when they appeared 
before him he asked, “ What deed is this that ye have done? ” Then he told 
them that the man in whose sack the cup was found should be his 
servant, but that the other brothers should return in peace to their father. 


90 How Shall I Go Up to my Father and the Lad be not with Me ? 



Judah, who had so earnestly besought his father to give Benjamin 
into his care, and who had vowed to return him safely, was now stricken 
with such deep sorrow that we cannot read the suffering, agonizing plea 
which he offered to Joseph without feeling a portion of the grief that 

moved him. Ap- 
proaching his royal 
brother with a hu- 
mility and dejection 
which plainly re- 
flected the agony of 
his mind, he begged 
that he would listen 
to the sorrowful cir- 
cumstances which had 
brought him and his 
brethren again to 
Egypt. He reminds 
Joseph how he had 
truly answered all his 
inquiries, in which he 
had told why Benja- 
min, the youngest, his father’s 
comforter, had not come with them 
on the first visit, and the sad 
cause that had brought him now. 
He then pleads for the life of 
his old father who will surely be 

HE FEEE UPON HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN’S NECK. 

brought to the grave with grief 
if Benjamin is not permitted to return, for that Jacob had mourned con- 
tinually for the loss of his sou Joseph, and now to remove from him his 
other favorite would inflict upon him a burden greater than he could bear, 
“ for his life is bound up in that of the lad.” As a last plea for his 
young brother, Judah begs Joseph to take him as a bondman in Ben- 
jamin’s place, and to let the lad return to his doting father. 


Be not Grieved nor Angry with Yourselves , that Ye Sold Me. 91 

This last soul-sorrowing supplication was more than Joseph could 
bear, and he commanded every one to go out of the rooms except his 
brothers, and when they were alone he burst out crying and revealed 
himself to his brothers, saying: “I am Joseph, your brother, 

I am Joseph 

whom ye sold into Egypt. Now, therefore, be not grieved your brother 
nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither ; for God whom y e sold 
did send me before you to preserve life.” Joseph’s forgive- mto Egypt * 
ness of his brothers for their wickedness in conspiring to take his life, 
and afterward in selling him into bondage, is beautifully expressed in 
the sacred records, wherein he is made to say : 

“ Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy 
son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt : come down unto me, 
tarry not : and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt 
be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and 
thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast : and there will I nourish 
thee ; for yet there are five years of famine ; lest thou, and thy household, 
and all that thou hast, come to poverty. . . And ye shall tell my father 

of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye shall haste 
and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s 
neck and wept ; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover, he kissed all 
his brethren and wept upon them.” 

When Pharaoh was informed that Joseph’s brothers had come, he told 
Joseph to load all their animals with grain and let them return to their 
father, and to take wagons and to bring back to Egypt Jacob and his 
household, and that he would give everything good that was in the 
land. 

To the brothers Pharaoh spoke, saying, “ Now thou art commanded, this 
do ye ; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and 
for your wives, and bring your father and come. Also regard not your 
stuff ; for the good of all Egypt is yours.” 

Joseph’s brothers departed for their home with many wagons and 
provisions for the journey, and other marks of kindness from both him and 
Pharaoh, including changes of clothing and money. Benjamin received 
five times as much as was given to the other brothers, which was because of 


92 


Jacob's Heart Fainted, for He Believed Them Not. 



his nearness of kinship to Joseph. When they reached Beersheba they ran 
joyfully to their father and told him the glad news of how Joseph was living 
and had been exalted to the rulership of all Egypt, and that he had sent 
them to bring their father to him. 

When Jacob heard all that had been told, his heart fainted, for he did 
not believe them, while the grief which he had felt for the loss of Joseph 
was brought back fresh again to him. When he saw the wagons and 
presents which his son had sent, his spirit revived and he then believed. 
The reaction from despondency which he had before felt to that of transport- 
ing happiness which followed the satisfying evidence that Joseph was indeed 
still living, was extremely great, as may be imagined, and was a fitting 

conclusion to the 
wonderful suc- 
cession of sur- 
prises which had 
come to himself 
and sons during 
the short period 
since they had 
first gone to 
Egypt to buy 
corn. 

When Jacob 
believed that 
Joseph was still 
living, he be- 
came all impa- 
tience to go im- 
mediately to see 
him ; but before 
setting out on the journey he did not neglect 
to make sacrifices unto God, who appeared 
to him in a vision at night, and said, “ Fear not to 
go down into Egypt, for I will there make of thee 


JOSEPH PRESENTING HIS FA- 
THER AND BRETHREN 
TO PHAROAH. 


93 


God Spake to Israel in the Visions of the Night. 

a great nation.” Jacob at once collected together all his household, including 
his sons’ wives, and his grandchildren, sixty-six in number, and all his goods 
and his herds, and went to Egypt. As the caravan reached the land of 
Goshen, which is on the frontier of Egypt, and which was to be the dwelling- 
place of Jacob, having been given to him by Pharaoh, Joseph came out to 
meet him in a chariot. What a sublimely beautiful though pathetic 
spectacle was now to be presented ! More than twenty years had passed 
since the sad news was brought to Jacob that Joseph, his best beloved, had 
been torn and eaten by wild beasts ; and behold, in his old age, his heart was 
lifted out of its long grief by the enrapturing tidings that this cruel story 
was false, and that the lost son was to be restored to him ; not as the little 
boy who went out in the fields, clothed in beautifully colored raiment, to 
bring report of the doing of his brothers, but as a man, grown to full estate, 
wearing the purple of authority, the greatest ruler in all Egypt, yet no less 
the loving son. 

When Joseph perceived his aged father approaching, he ran to meet 
him, and falling on his neck wept with that joy which may best be 
described as lifting us from earth into the blissful con- 
dition of angels. Jacob was equally overcome, for he said, Let me die since 
in the pride and happiness of his heart, “ Now let me die, 1 ^ 

since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” 

When Jacob was brought before Pharaoh, he was questioned by the 
king as to his age and possessions, to which Jacob replied that he was 
then a hundred and thirty years old, during which time his sorrows had 
been very great. Pharaoh seems to have been much affected by Jacob’s 
story of his griefs, but was no doubt influenced more by the estimation 
in which he held Joseph in making his gifts to Israel — which Jacob and 
his household were now called. The land of Goshen, also called Raineses, 
was a most fruitful district near the eastern confines of Egypt, and 
was a considerable territory. All this Pharaoh gave to Jacob, besides 
ordering Joseph to sustain the household until the famine abated. 

Jacob lived in Goshen for seventeen years, and was now so old that 
his eyesight, like that of his father, Isaac, in his last years, had so 
failed him that he could no longer see. Realizing that his death was 


94 


Gather Yourselves Together and Hear , Ye Sons of Jacob. 


near at hand he sent for Joseph and his two sons, named Manasseh 
and Ephraim, who were born to him by his wife, Asenath, whom he had 
married directly after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream. When 
The angel which they arrived Jacob summoned his strength and sat up in 
f ro nT ai * evHs ^ed, an( ^ a ^ ter telling Joseph how God had blessed him and 
bless the lads, the promises made toward his descendants, he called his 
two grandsons to give them his blessings. Being blind he 
had to trust his touch, as Isaac had, so that when the boys came to 
him he felt them, to distinguish the elder from the younger. Joseph 
desired that his father’s first blessing should be given to Manasseh, the 
elder, but Jacob, remembering how he, being younger than his brother 



MEETING OE JACOB AND JOSEPH. 

Esau, had taken the blessing from his father, chose to give the greater 
blessing to Ephraim, which he accordingly did. Following this he 
called all of his own sons together, the twelve mentioned, and giving to 
Joseph a double portion, he divided the rest of his possessions among 
the others, and then gave a prophecy of what should be the career of 
each. Through Judah, who pleaded so hard before Joseph for the release 
of Benjamin, Jacob declared should come the Redeemer (Shiloh). Reuben, 
through his instability, should not excel ; Simeon and Levi, for the 
wrong they did in putting Hamor and his son, the husband of Dinah, 
to the sword, should be cursed for their anger, and their descendants 
scattered in Israel ; Zebulun should dwell by the sea, and keep a haven 
for ships ; Issachar should be a servant to carry heavy burdens ; Dan 


Joseph Fell upon His Father's Face and Wept , and Kissed Him . 95 

was appointed to be a judge of one of the tribes of Israel; Gad would 
be overcome, but being a great warrior, should become victorious over 
his enemies at last ; Asher was appointed to great riches ; Naphtali 
should be a counsellor; Benjamin was to become a great warrior, who 
would never be satisfied with his conquests, and would fight if for no 
other reason than for the spoils that he might take. 

For Joseph was reserved all the good things that might be given 
through the favor of God, but already had his destiny been almost 
complete, since the position to which he had attained was 
equal to that of king of a great country. These twelve Bury mew,th my 

fathers in the 

sons afterward became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, Cave of Ephron 
and will be frequently mentioned in subsequent narratives'. 

After finishing the giving of his prophetic blessings, Jacob charged 
his sons after his death to bury him in the field of Machpelah, which is 
before Mamre, where already reposed the bodies of his parents and 
grandparents, and of his wife Leah. When he had thus commanded 
them, “ he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost,” 
aged one hundred and forty-seven years. 

When his father was dead Joseph threw himself upon the body in 
a wild passion of grief and kissed it repeatedly. He then ordered his 
physicians to embalm his precious dead, and kept the body in his house 
for a period of forty days, as was the custom of the Egyptians, but his 
period of morning was for seventy days. The body was now taken by 
Joseph and his brothers, who were followed by all the servants in 
Pharaoh’s house and the prominent people of Egypt, in chariots and on 
horseback, u to the threshing floor of Atad,” which was near the Jordan 
River. Here they halted and went into mourning for seven days, after 
which the body was carried to the place designated in Jacob’s last 
request, and deposited in the sepulchre with his fathers. 

When they had returned from the burial of their father, Joseph’s 
brothers expressed fear that now he would punish them for their iniquity 
in selling him into bondage, and to propitiate his anger they fell down 
at his feet and begged him to forgive them, offering to remain forever 
his servants if he would but spare them. At this Joseph wept, sorrowful 


9 6 Ye Shall Carry Up My Bones from Hence. 

that they should believe that he harbored any desire for revenge. But 
he soon dismissed their fears, by promising to do God’s will in all 
things and to provide for both them and their children. 

There is little more recorded in the Bible about Joseph after his 
father’s death, as it merely tells us that he continued to dwell in Egypt, 
with his relatives, until he was one hundred and ten years of age, and 
had seen the third generation of his son Ephraim, and had held the 
grandchildren of his son Manasseh on his knee. At this age he died 
and was embalmed and buried in Egypt. Many years afterward, when 
the Israelites reached Canaan, the remains of Joseph were carried over to 
Sychein and laid in the sepulchre with his father. 



CHAPTER V. 


Moses , the Law -give}' and Deliverer . 



“ She called his name Moses, . . because she drew him out of 
the water.”- 'E xodus 2. 10. 


1 OSES is one of the sublime characters of Jewish 
history, whose place is not easily fixed because 
his talents were as diversified as they were 
conspicuous. In some respects he may be com- 
pared to Julius Caesar, and to Napoleon Bona- 
parte, but yet he was greatly superior to either 


of these, for he was wisest of lawgivers, greatest of 


commanders, and mightiest of national leaders, to 


which remarkable abilities were added the direct gifts 


/ of God that made him the savior of his oppressed people, as 
we shall presently describe. 

In the Book of Genesis we are told that Israel was the brother of 
Edom, the cousin of Moab and Ammon, which four persons may be 
classed as the heads of a people that settled in southeastern Palestine 
and became known as Hebrews, and as Israelites. Here the tribe 
engaged in pastoral pursuits and increased so rapidly in powers and 
numbers that they conquered the Canaanites of that region. About fifteen 
centuries before our era there was a division among the Hebrews, which 
resulted in a part of the tribe leaving its ancient seat to occupy Goshen, 
a pasture country of Egypt. Here they recognized the authority of 
Pharaoh, but retained their characteristics of language, patri- Socjal 
archal institutions and nomadic habits. Their prosperity, condition of 
and particularly their refusal to assimilate with the Egyp- thc Jcws ' 
tians, aroused a jealousy which led finally to the imposition of discrim- 
inating burdens upon them. The Israelites were treated as foreigners 

(97) 


7 


98 The Children of Israel were Fruitful and Increased Abundantly . 

living off the nation and were compelled to construct public works in 
Goshen. This action the Jews (or Israelites) regarded as an assault 
upon their nationality, but complaint had no other effect than to increase 
the abuses to which they were now systematically subjected. 

In the time of Joseph, therefore, they were so ostra- 
cised that no Jew was permitted to sit at table with an 
Egyptian. Thus we saw, in the preceding chapter, that 
when Joseph’s brothers came to him on their second visit 
to buy corn, when he had ordered them to dine with him, 
he had three tables prepared : one for himself, one for 
his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were in 
his house. Though Pharaoh and his people were content 
to care for the household of Jacob, the land which was 
given them in Goshen lay outside the borders of Egypt, 
probably on the frontier of Syria, as the sentiment against 
the Jews would not permit of even Joseph’s relatives occu- 
pying a part of the Egyptian territory proper. 

The story of the oppressions of the Israelites, descend- 
ants of Jacob, who was called Israel, begins thus, “Now 
there rose up a new king over Egypt who knew not 
Joseph.” We are therefore not informed of the circum- 
stances which gave rise to the new dynasty succeed- 
ing Pharaoh who was king at the time of Joseph. The 
sacred record does tell us, however, that the Israelites, or 
Jews of modern history, had increased so rapidly that 
the King of Egypt grew fearful lest they should become 
more numerous than his own people, or that they might unite with 
other enemies of the Egyptians and make war against him. This ques- 
tion of the Jewish increase became such a serious one at length that 
measures were taken to limit it, and also to prevent them from emigrating, 
which the levy of burdens might prompt them to do. Accordingly, 
Pharaoh, the new king, appointed taskmasters over the Jews and in other 
respects also reduced them to a state of bondage. The heaviest burdens 
were imposed upon the unhappy people, by which they were compelled 



EGYPTIAN COUJMN 
BEARING NAMES 
RAMESES II. AND 
MENEPHTHAH I. 


The Daughter of Pharaoh Came Doivn to Wash Herself. 99 

to build the treasure cities of Pithom and Raineses. But notwithstanding 
the severity of their labor, the Jews continued to multiply as rapidly as 
before. 

Seeing the futility of his measures thus far, Pharaoh adopted new 
and more rigorous ones, by which Hebrew children were forced to perform 
the hardest labor, such as the carrying of brick and mortar, and to do 
the heavy labors of the field. To this was next added a yet more severe 
law commanding the mid wives to kill every male child born to the Jews, 
though they were ordered to spare all the female children. 

While these dreadfully restrictive measures were in force; a descen- 
dant of Levi, one of Jacob’s sons, married a Jewess of the same descent, 
by whom he had a son. The mother, to save her child from Birth and 

being killed according to the law, hid him for three months, finding of 

but not being able, from her poverty, to keep him longer con- 
cealed she made a basket of willows and covered it with slime and pitch 
so that it might float ; she then placed her babe in this frail shallop and 
laid it among the flags of the 
river (Nile) brink, and stationed 
the babe’s sister, Miriam, a lit- 
tle way off to see what might 
happen to the child. 

It is most probable that the 
spot where the basket was de- 
posited was one frequented by 
members of the royal house- 
hold, for we are told that soon 
after Pharaoh’s daughter, at- 
tended by her maids,- came 
down to bathe at this very place. Discovering the. child in the basket, by 
hearing its cries, she ordered her maid to bring it to her. While holding 
the child she saw that it was of Hebrew parentage ; Miriam, now per- 
ceiving her opportunity, asked if she should get a Hebrew mother to 
nurse it, to which the kind-hearted princess gave her consent, and as 
the babe’s mother was near by she was called, and it was given into her 



ioo When Pharaoh Heard this Thing He Sought to Slay Moses. 



care, with the promise of the princess to pay her wages for rearing it. 
After some years, the child, which had now grown greatly, was brought 
to Pharaoh’s daughter, who accepted him as her son, and called his name 
Moses, which means “ taken out of the water.” 

After the adoption of Moses by Pharaoh’s daughter we have no 
further record concerning him until, according to the 
Moses kills an au th or ity 0 f Stephen, he was forty years of age, when 
we are told that, one day, while Moses was watching the 
hard labor of his people, he saw an Egyp- 
tian (taskmaster, presumedly,) beating one 
of his Hebrew brethren. Evi- 
dently all who were wit- 


FINDING OF MOSES. 


nesses of this assault were Hebrews, for Moses looked this way and 
that way, and when he saw that there was no man (Egyptian) in sight, 
he slew the Egyptian, and buried him in the sand. 


And He Gave Moses Zippo rah, His Daughter. 


IOI 



On the next day, as Moses was walking out he saw two Jews fighting, 
whom he so soundly reproved that one of them asked who had made him 
a prince and a judge, and then taunted him with having killed and hid 
the Egyptian. Pharaoh was thus apprised of the murder, and resolved to 
execute Moses for the crime, but he fled and went to Midian, which was in 
Arabia, and there sat down by a well to rest and refresh 
himself. 

While thus resting, seven daughters of a Midian 
priest, named Jethro, came there to water 
their father’s flocks, and after they had 
filled the troughs some shep- 
herds came up 
and drove them 
away, but 








MOSES DEFENDING THE DAUGHTERS OF 
JETHRO. 


■mm 


Moses came to their aid 
and gallantly watered 
their flocks for them. For this kind 
act he was invited to the house of 
Jethro, where he lived but a short time before the priest gave him one 
of his daughters, Zipporah in marriage by whom Moses had 
one son that he named Gershom. It is somewhat singular 
that no mention whatever is made of this son, or of Zipporah 
either, beyond the mere statement of the marriage and birth. It is 


The Marriage 
of Moses. 


102 


Behold the Bush Burned with Fire . 



probable that Gershom died in infancy for had he grown to manhood 
he would have almost certainly succeeded to some hereditary office, unless 
he was ineligible by reason of sin, or mental incapacity. The four sons 
of Aaron, as we shall presently see, were installed in the priestly office 

directly after they be- 
came of age, or, rather, 
almost immediately 
upon the completion 
of the Tabernacle, but 
Moses left no children 
that figured in the 
sacred history. 

Moses remained 
with Jethro attending 
his herds for several 
years, nearly forty, by 
some authorities, 
when one day, as he 
drove the cattle to a 
new pasturage at the 
Mount of Horeb, an 
angel appeared to 
him, assuming the 
appearance of a burn- 
ing bush, out of which 
God called to him. 
When Moses had 
made answer the 
voice told him to take off his .sandals because the place was holy 
ground. The voice then continuing told him of the promises made to 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that the burdens and sorrows of the 
Israelites, under their cruel Egyptian taskmasters, had excited God’s 
compassion. The voice therefore spoke further to Moses, commanding 
him to go to Pharaoh and procure the release of his people from bondage, 


MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHARAOH. 


/ Will Bring You Up Out of the Affliction of Egypt. 103 

by means which would be placed within his power. Moses was then 
further instructed as to what he should do, and was permitted to perform 
miracles by which he would be able to convince the Israelites that he 
was indeed sent to deliver them. 

Moses had a brother named Aaron, three years his elder, concerning 
whose birth the Bible tells us nothing. It may be that the word 
“ brother ” here means that Aaron was only a member of his tribe ; or, 
possibly, that the two were half-brothers ; in either event, the importance 
of exactness in the 
narrative is not 
great. We are told 
that while God was 
manifesting Himself 
to Moses, Aaron was 
journeying to meet 
him, and that the 
two met at Mount Horeb, where Moses 
told his brother of the wonderful things 
which God had just performed, and 
of his call to go back into Egypt to 
deliver his people. Aaron was an elo- 
quent man, while Moses was, as he 
admits, slow of tongue, so the ' Lord 
said to him that Aaron should help 
him to talk to the people, and that he, 
too, would be given the power to perform miracles. It was not without 
much persuasion upon the part of God, who at length became angered, 
that Moses consented to do that which he was bidden, for he doubted, 
even in the face of the many miracles which God wrought before him, his 
fitness for the work of deliverance, or that God would help him as He 
promised. These doubts, however, were finally removed, and Moses, first 
gaining the consent of Jethro, his father-in-law, set out with his wife and 
two sons for Egypt. As they came again to Mount Horeb, Aaron met 
them, and they traveled together until they came to a caravansary, or 



PAPYRUS SHOES, SANDAUS. AND MUSICAL 
INSTRUMENTS FROM EGYPT. 


104 Behold They Will Not Believe Me nor Harken to My V lice. 

inn, where, after stopping for the night, Moses’ wife was prevailed upon to 
return to her father, since the hardships of the journey were too great for 
herself and her young babe. 

The two brothers, upon reaching Egypt, called at once upon the 
priests, or elders, of the Israelites, to whom they told how God had com- 
manded them to deliver the people out of bondage, and, as 
a S ^ n P ower which the Lord had given them, they 

serpents. changed their rods into serpents, which convinced the 
elders. In all that was said Aaron acted as the mouthpiece 
of Moses, for to one was given the ability to direct while the other was 
endowed with the gift of eloquence. 

When they had explained their mission to the elders, who 
were then to prepare the Israelites for their freedom, Moses and 

Aaron went before Pharaoh and asked 
him to allow the Hebrews to go three 
days’ journey into the wilderness and 
make a feast, but Pharaoh evidently 
perceived the intention of Moses, and 
instead of granting the request he 
imposed fresh burdens upon the Is- 
raelites. These increased hardships 
made the Israelites regret that Moses 
had ever designed their freedom, and 
they besought him to cease his efforts 
for their release. Even Moses him- 
self was overcome by the sad results 
of his attempts to procure the deliverance of his people, for he went out 
into a field and cried to the Lord, “ Wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated 
this people ? Why is it that Thou hast sent me ? for since I came to 
Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither 
hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.” 

When Moses had thus complained, God answered him by saying 
that now should He drive Pharaoh with a strong hand, and renewed 
His promise to bring the Israelites out of bondage. God also renewed 



PREPARING A SACRIFICE. 


I Know Not the Lord , neither will I Let Israel Go. 


xo 5 


the covenant which He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and told 
Moses that His name should now be Jehovah, by which He had never 
before been called. Then God said that Aaron should be the prophet, to 
declare to Pharaoh what should come to pass, and to foretell the afflictions 
which should be brought upon the Egyptians if Pharaoh persisted in 
refusing to give the Hebrews their freedom. 

Moses and Aaron were now commanded to go again to Pharaoh, at 
which time we are told that Moses was eighty and Aaron was eighty- 
three years of age. As they came before the 
king to show him the power which God had 
given them, and that their request for the deliv- 
erance of the Israelites was made by God’s com- 
mands, Aaron threw down his rod before Pha- 
raoh, when instantly it became a live serpent. 

But this miracle did not con- 
vince the king, for, calling his 
magicians before Moses, they too 
cast down their rods and changed 
them into serpents, but Aaron’s 
rod swallowed up the magicians’ 
rods. On the following day, as 
Pharaoh came down to the river, 

Moses went before him, and strik- 
ing the water with his rod turned 
it into blood ; and when the 
Egyptians dug for wells they 
could find nothing but blood, and 
there was no water to drink for a period of seven days. This plague of 
blood was so great that Pharaoh softened his heart and promised to let 
the Israelites go if Moses would bring back the waters as before. But 
when Moses, by prayer to God, restored the waters, Pharaoh broke his 
promise, so that other plagues were sent upon Egypt, each time the king 
declaring, while the plague was upon the land, that if it were removed 
he would liberate the people, but as often refusing to redeem his pledge. 



RAMESIS II. HOLDING TABEE OF OFFERINGS. 


io6 


I will Pass Through the Land of Egypt this Night . 


Angel of the 
Passover. 


The plagues that were thus sent by God were as follows : First, a 
plague of blood, then of frogs, next of lice, flies, murrain, by which all 
the domestic animals died, then boils on both man and beast, then hail 
and fire, next grasshoppers, then darkness, and last, but most terrible of all, 
was the plague of the first-born, by which the eldest child of every 
Egyptian family was brought to death. 

When God determined to visit the Egyptians with this last dreadful 
punishment, He first directed Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites and 
to order each Hebrew family to take a lamb from their 
flocks, which should be kept for a period of four days, at 
the end of which time it was to be killed, in the evening; 
into the blood of the lamb a hyssop branch was to be dipped, which 
should then be struck on each side and over every door of the Israelites’ 
houses, so that there might be three marks of blood at the door of those 
who were to escape the visit of death. It was also commanded that the 
lambs thus slain should be roasted and eaten while the Israelites were 
all ready to depart out of Egypt, their dress complete and weapons in 
their hands. 

While the Hebrews were thus prepared, and were eating the lambs 
as God directed, the angel of death came through all the land of Egypt, 
smiting the first-born of every Egyptian house, but passing by, or over, 
every house that had the blood marks. It is this incident which the 
Jews still celebrate in their Feast of the Passover. 

None of the plagues which God had sent to worry the Egyptians 
were permitted to visit any of the Israelites, but still Pharaoh was so 
wicked in his heart, and had so long bowed down to idols, that with all 
the manifestations of God’s will and power, he refused to give the 
Israelites their freedom. When, therefore, the plague of the first-born 
was sent, God ordered His chosen people to gather together themselves 
and their flocks, and to borrow, or take from the Egyptians 
T <jut ^of 3 Eg^pt; 6 ^ ie an( ^ silver and jewels which they could obtain, 

and depart out of Egypt. The number which started in 
obedience to this command was six hundred thousand men, besides chil- 
dren ; and herds of animals, such as goats, cattle, camels and asses, but 


From Art and Artists, by permission. From painting by F. A. Bridgman. 

AND THE EGYPTIANS PURSUED, AND WENT IN AFTER THEM. . . . EVEN ATE PHARAOH’S HORSES, HIS CHARIOTS, AND HIS HORSEMEN. 







io8‘ He Pursued After the Children of Israel. 

without other provisions, as the haste with which they left prevented 
them from taking any victuals except some unleavened bread. 

So great was the number of Israelites that they had gone some 
days before Pharaoh could assemble an army large enough to go in 
pursuit. We are not told how many soldiers Pharaoh collected, but it 
must have been a great host, for “ he took six hundred chosen chariots 
and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.” 

The Israelites did not flee with any well-determined idea as to where 
they were going, being concerned only for their freedom, and relying 
upon the Lord’s promise to bring them to a land flowing with milk and 
honey. The desert which lay between Egypt and Canaan (Palestine), 
being the north portion of Arabia, was called u the wilderness,” through 
which their route lay. As there were no roads through this dreary 
country, lest they might become lost, God sent before them a cloud by 
day and a pillar of fire by night, which they were bidden to follow. 

When the Israelites were several days’ march from the capital of 
Egypt, God commanded them to make a camp at Pihahiroth, which was 
beside the northmost end of the Red Sea. Here, in the 
The Israelites Q f tj ie confusion of their camp, they discovered the 

pursued by 

Pharaoh. rapidly approaching army of Pharaoh, and became panic- 
stricken. Believing that they should now be massacred, a 
great number of Israelites began to find fault with Moses, “ for,” said 
they, ‘‘it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we 
should die in the wilderness.” Moses replied to their murmurings by 
bidding them to fear not and that they should see the salvation of the 
Lord, for he would fight for them. 

When Moses had prayed to God he was bidden to stretch forth his 
rod and divide the waters of the Red Sea, and to order his people to 
move forward. After he had followed the Divine direction the waters of 
the sea were divided so that a great wall stood on either side and left a 
dry path between. Into this miraculous pathway the Israelites marched, 
followed directly by the pursuing Egyptians, but the latter had not 
proceeded far when the great walls of water were broken and came 
rushing together upon Pharaoh’s host with such violence that they were 



direct and easiest way. But there were two reasons why God chose that 
they should be led by the longer and more difficult route. First . — If they 
had gone by the shore of the Mediterranean their march would have 
been interrupted by the warlike Philistines, who dwelt in the southern 
part of Canaan, by whom they would doubtless have been exterminated, 
without some miraculous interposition. Second . — The Lord chose to 


The Congregation . . . of Israel Came unto the Wilderness of Sin. 109 

overwhelmed and every one of that immense army was drowned. But 
the Israelites marched out on the other side on dry ground, nor was one 
of them destroyed, for the waters did not come together until they had 
all passed out on the Arabian side. 

When the Israelites were safe from their enemies they sang praises 
to the Lord with hearty thanksgiving, and then continued their march. 
The land of Canaan lay northeast of Egypt, but the route 
takeu by them was a circuitous one, since it lead south- '^ an ^ crm ®® of 

J 7 the Israelites. 

easterly through Arabia, and thus caused them to travel 

many hundreds of miles farther, and through a very much more miserable 

country, than if they had skirted the Mediterranean Sea, and gone by the 


AND MOSES STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND ... AND THE SEA RETURNED TO ITS STRENGTH. 



no 


The People Murmured Against Moses . 


chasten His people and impress upon them His loving care and providence, 
by which they should come to serve Him loyally — a most excellent 
reason, as we shall hereafter see. 

The Israelites, after crossing the Red Sea, marched southwardly along 
the Gulf of Suez, until they reached the seventeen wells of Moses, at 
the station of Ayun Musa. From this point they diverged southwest- 
wardly through the margin of the desert of Paran, and the wilderness 
of Shur, which is still noted for its great sand storms and aridity. For 
three days they were in this wilderness without water, and when, at last, 
being tormented by thirst, they came to the spring of Marah, they could 
not drink the water because of its bitterness. Again the Israelites 
complained loudly against Moses for bringing them into such a land, 
wherein they were threatened with death by thirst, forgetting already how 
God had delivered them in their extremities. 

The Lord now directed Moses to take the branches of a certain tree, 
which grew by the spring, and cast them into the spring, which being 
done the waters were at once made sweet and wholesome, so that the 
Israelites and their herds gratified their thirst. 

After quenching their thirst at Marah the Hebrews continued their 
march until they came to what was called the wilderness of Sin, which 
was not far from the Red Sea, or between its waters and 
Bread and meat M ount Sinai. Here they were put to another great trial, 

miraculously 

supplied. f° r the unleavened bread which they had brought away 
from Egypt was now exhausted, and starvation was threat- 
ening. As they had already done three times before, when suffering 
under the chastening rod, they again accused Moses of leading them into 
a strange land which had made their hardships greater than those which 
they bore while under bondage. 

The Lord now told Moses and Aaron that he would again show to 
the Israelites that he was leading them, by causing bread to fall from 
heaven wherewith to satisfy their hunger, and that He would so continue 
to supply them until they should come into Canaan. According to this 
promise every night thereafter manna was sent from heaven, which the 
people gathered early in the morning so that the supply was never 



THE FORD WENT BEFORE THEM 


IN A PIEEAR OF FIRE 


(III) 







1 1 2 


This is the Bread which the Lord hath Given You to Eat . 


deficient. But besides this miraculous provision, that the people should 
not be fed by bread alone, in the evening a great number of quails flew 
into their camp, which were caught and served to supply them with meat. 

The Biblical account of the miraculous supply of heavenly bread has 
long been a subject of dispute between theologians and scientists. The 
name manna is no doubt derived from the Hebrew 
exclamation, “ Man-Hu ?” meaning “ What is it ?” 
for it was this question that the Israelites asked of 
each other upon beholding the strange substance that 
had fallen so suddenly in the night, and covered the 
ground. 

The Israelites were directed to gather 
as much of the substance as they required 
for the day, but no more. Some of those 
, who sought to save themselves 

trouble by keeping the substance 
over night found that it became 
tainted and useless. On the 
sixth day the Israelites were 
told to gather double the quan- 
tity, as no manna would fall on 
the Sabbath. This they found 
to be true; moreover, the manna 
gathered on the sixth day did 
not become uneatable. 

The Bible says that the Is- 
raelites lived upon manna by day 
and quail by night for forty years. Modern mathematicians, computing 
the amount by the number of persons known to be in the Israelitish host, 
estimate the amount of manna consumed at 15,000,000 pounds a week. 
This is why modern theologians insist that the sending of the manna 
was miraculous. What follows is the contention of the materialists — the 
scientists. Since very early times, they say, the name of “Man” or 
“Man-Na” has been applied in the East to a resinous substance which 



MENEPHTHAH II. 


The Children of Israel did Eat Manna Forty Years. 113 

exudes from the bark and leaves of the tamarisk tree. These exudations, 
when they attain the size of a pea, fall from the tree on to the sticks and 
leaves with which the ground is covered. It must be gathered early in 
the day or it will be melted by the sun. 

The Arabs collect this substance, cleanse it by boiling, strain it 
through a cloth, and put it in leathern bottles. In this way it can be 
kept uninjured for several years. It is the contention of the scientists 
that it was this substance upon which the Israelites lived. The Arabs 
use it like honey, or butter, upon their unleavened bread, but it is worthy 
of remark that they never make it into cakes, or eat it by itself, as seems 
to have been the custom of the Israelites with their manna. 

Still another form of manna is a minute fungus, or lichen, of the 
Lecanora species. This grows plentifully on the ground in some parts 
of Africa, and it has been found on the eastern shores of 

Different kinds 

the Red Sea. It is often swept by the wind into great 

heaps, whence it is collected by the natives and used for 

food. One of the great desert sand storms, having all the force of a 

cyclone, will sometimes snatch up these heaps and whirl them away, 

scattering the lichen plentifully in regions in which it may never before 

have been seen. 

A third form of manna, which is used in medicine as a mild laxative, 
comes from Calabria and Sicily. It is gathered during the months of June 
and July from a species of ash, from which it drops in consequence of a 
puncture by an insect resembling the locust, but distinguished from it by 
having a sting under its body. The substance is fluid at night, and 
resembles the dew, but in the morning it begins to harden. 

Many scientists maintain that the substance eaten by the Israelites was a 
fungus, or lichen, which, brought from afar and deposited on the ground 
by a windstorm, was regarded by the Israelites as a miraculous substance. 
It seems hardly probable that there would be a fungus-bearing cyclone 
in the Sinai Peninsula every day for forty years, but that would have to 
be assumed if the argument of the scientists is to be accepted. 

As for the gum-manna, which exudes from the tamarisk and other 
trees, it has been shown that the substance does not resemble that described 
8 


To-day Ye Shall Not Find it in the Field. 


114 



in the Bible. Moreover, it would have taken a very big forest of the 
shrubs to yield 15,000,000 pounds of manna every week for forty years. 
Again, the gum-manna keeps almost indefinitely, while the manna of the 
Israelites spoiled if it was kept over night. 

God very often confounds the critics of His Holy Word. Hundreds 
of denials of scriptural records have been made by professed scientists, 
Another fall of but about the time the world gets ready to accept their proofs, 
ToumTs the other scientists stumble upon the verifications of Bible history, 
scientists. All the excavations in Assyria, all the resurrections of palaces, 
statues, and hieroglyphically in- 
scribed monuments in Egypt i t 

confirm the story of 
Joseph, of Moses, and 


VIEW FROM desert of shur, eooking towards border of red sea AND SUEZ. 


the Pharaohs that oppressed the Israelites. Though refuted a thousand times, 
their vain conclusions shattered by the sudden uncovering of Bible evidence, 
the learned scoffers return time and again to make fresh denials, and one 
which they have harped on longest is this question of manna from heaven. 


Let Them All be Confounded and Turned Back. 





MOSES IN THE MOUNTAIN. ;To)'; 

The Lord moves in myste- 
rious ways, frequently to the dis- • 
comfiture of the wicked, and now 
comes the information, to the astonish- 
ment and perplexity of scientists, that in 
April of 1899 another fall of manna has 
taken place in Lower Palestine. The proof 
has been supplied by Cairo dragomen and 
Bedouins of the desert of Shur and all the 
Sinai Peninsula and the east coast of the 


n6 I will Stand Before Thee there upon the Rock in Horeb. 

Suez Canal, that this strange substance has been descending every night 
for several months in such profusion that the ground is covered many 
inches in depth of a morning, but entirely disappears by the rising of 
the sun. 

All the dwellers in the Sinai Peninsula are familiar with the ordinary 
manna, which is a gummy exude of the Tamarisk shrub, but they say 
that the present fall in no way resembles the usual substance. Instead 
of being yellow, it is white, and it will not keep nearly as long as the 
ordinary manna. The Bedouins, who have neither books nor archives, 
but have, nevertheless, the chronicles of their ancestors by heart, call it 
“ man-hafu ” — the old manna, declaring that it is the manna of their 
forefathers. 

The many manifestations of God’s watchful care which the Israelites 
had seen still did not incline them to a belief in the promises Moses 
Water brought had ma de to them ; for with every fresh trouble they were 
out of the ready to expend their wrath upon the leader whom God 
rock in Horeb. ^ad appointed to take them from a land of bondage to a 
country blessed with an abundance for all their temporal needs. 

After the Israelites had passed through the desert of Sin they came 
to a place called Rephidim, meaning resting place. Again were they 
afflicted with the scarcity of water, and again did they raise a cry against 
Moses, which, at length grew into threats against his life. Moses 
appealed to the Lord, by whom he was directed to take some of the 
elders and go on before the people until he should reach the rock in Horeb; 
this rock he was directed to strike with his rod, promising that a plenti- 
ful supply of water should follow the act. Moses did as the Lord bade 
him, and a stream of water gushed out of the rock, sufficient for all the 
people and their herds ; but scarcely had the danger of thirst been over- 
come, when a king called Amalek, a leader of some warlike tribes who 
were descendants of Esau, attacked them with no other purpose than to 
rob them of their possessions. 

This first battle of the Israelites was a severe one and was waged 
for some time with varying success, for we are told that, though Joshua 
was the leader of the Israelitish host, when Moses lifted his hands his 


Blessed be the Lord who hath Delivered you. 117 

people prevailed, but when he let them fall the Amalekites prevailed. The 
battle so continued until Moses sat upon a stone and his hands were 
held up by Aaron on one side and Hur on the other, when the Israelites 
put to flight the Amalekites with great slaughter. 



MOUNT SINAT. 


After this great battle, Jethro, the Midian priest, Moses’ father-in-law, 
heard of the events befalling the Israelites ; and taking Zipporah, Moses’ 
wife, and the two sons born to him, he went out to meet Moses !s a 
his kinsmen. When they met, Moses fell on Jethro’s neck judge of his 
and kissed him, and then told of all the wonderful things 
which had befallen him since his departure from Egypt. Jethro seems 
to have been a very devout man, for he served the true God, and when he 
learned how Moses was an instrument in the Lord’s hands for bringing the 
Israelites out of bondage, he took a burnt offering and made sacrifices to God. 


n8 Lo , / 77z^ z>z <2 Thick Cloud 

On the following day all the Israelites were called together before 
Moses to receive such judgments as they might ask to have made, as 
Moses was the only judge which they had, and upon him therefore 
devolved the entire administration of justice. Jethro, seeing this, told 
Moses that the duty was too much for one man to perform, and there- 
upon advised that councillors and judges be appointed from among the 
people who should sit in judgment somewhat after the manner of our 
present courts. Moses was to be the supreme judge, whilst others should 
try the lesser offenses or causes, corresponding with our circuit judges 
and magistrates. This would relieve Moses of all other duties save the 
hearing of the highest complaints. These suggestions were so well 
received that Moses at once acted upon them and appointed rulers or 
judges, over thousands, and over hundreds, and fifties, and of tens. After 
this Jethro departed, and there is no further mention made concerning 
him. 

In the third month after the Israelites had gone out of Egypt they 
came into the wilderness of Sinai, and when they had encamped at the 
foot of Mount Sinai Moses went up on to the peak and there talked 
with God. In this conversation the Lord reminded him of how He had 
sustained him and his people, and that greater things were yet in store 
for him if he would obey His voice. Then. God further told Moses to 
go down among the Israelites and sanctify them, and to order them to 
The Ten Com- wash their clothes and be ready on the third day thereafter 
mandments writ to receive Him. God charged Moses particularly, however, 
by God. not p erm i t an y one t 0 go up to the mount, for death 
would be surely visited upon those who should attempt to do so. 

When morning dawned on the third day there was a deep cloud 
seen resting on Sinai, out of which came flashes of blinding lightning 
and crashing peals of thunder, so that all the people in the camp trembled 
with great fear. Moses now ordered all the Israelites to come out of 
their tents and to stand at the foot of the mountain ; as they obeyed 
the command the Lord descended upon the mount in fire and made it 
smoke like an immense furnace, while thunder continued to break in 
terrific discharges. Then a trumpet was heard blaring in deep resonance, 


Mount Sinai was Altogether on a Smoke. 


119 



and growing louder and louder until Moses spoke, when the Lord called 
to him to come up on the mountain. When Moses came up God charged 
him to go down again and forbid the people, the priests or the elders 
from venturing upon the side of the mount, lest they become victims to 
His wrath, but to come up again and bring with him Aaron. 

After Moses did what had been commanded, he received and com- 
municated to the people 
the law which God had 
promulgated, the ten com- 
mandments which He af- 
terward again gave to 
Moses on the same moun- 
tain written on tables of 
stone. When 
Moses returned to 
God he stood in 
the thick darkness 
which clothed the 
Omnipotent, while 
the people looked 
on from a distance, 
fearful of the thun- 
ders and black clouds from out 
which God’s voice was sent. Here 
Moses received the Divine pre- 
cepts, which related to the government and future of the Jewish people. 
God thus, through Moses, assured the Israelites of His protection if they 
would but obey Him, but warned them of His vengeance 

J 11 1 u 1 1 The Ark of the 

should they embrace idolatry. Above all, he told them that Ho(y Covenant _ 
the angel Jehovah (the Christ), who had guided them out 
of Egypt, would still lead them to the land of promise and fight their 
battles. 

Moses returned to Mount Sinai several times, being the messenger 
between God and the Israelites, but on the last visit he remained for a 


THOU SHAI/T SET THE TABEE 
WITHOUT THE VAIE. 


120 


Thou Shalt Make the Tabernacle with Ten Curtains. 


period of forty days and nights, fasting all the while, during which time 
he was commanded to make a sanctuary from the gold, silver, fine linens, 
shittim wood and skins that the people should contribute. He also told 
Moses that this sanctuary should have an altar, or mercy-seat, of pure 
gold, with two cherubim of gold that should be placed on either side 
facing each other, and with wings extended. The mercy-seat was to rest 
upon an ark, at which God promised to meet and commune with Moses 
concerning the government of his people and of holy things. He also 
commanded that a Tabernacle be built of ten curtains of fine twisted 
linen, of blue, purple and scarlet, and within this Tabernacle should the 
ark be kept. There was also to be provided a table for shew-bread. 
This bread was to be baked by the priests, appointed for a week, and 
placed on the golden table in the sanctuary. There were to be twelve 
loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, which were to be changed 
every Sabbath, and be eaten only by the priests in the holy place. The 
Lord also told Moses to provide an altar for sacrifices, and also a 
candelabra, or golden candlestick, of seven branches, and a lamp which 
should be kept supplied with olive oil. 

Besides the instructions which God gave to Moses as to how the 
Tabernacle of the congregation should be built, and the holy furniture 
with which it should be provided, He also told Moses to 
of the establish a priesthood by investing Aaron and his four 
priesthood. sons with the vestments of the holy office, describing to 
His servant what the insignia of the priestly office should 
be, and Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated. While the priestly 
garments were ordered to be made out of the most costly linens, bejeweled 
with many precious stones, such as topaz, carbuncle, diamond, sardius, 
emerald, sapphire, ligure, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx and jasper, set 
in “ouches of gold in their inclosing,’ 7 it is somewhat surprising that 
the ceremony of investiture was made so simple. The command given 
was that, “ thou (Moses) shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door 
of the Tabernacle of the congregation and wash them, and thou shalt put 
upon Aaron the holy garments and anoint him, that he may minister 
to Me in the priest’s office.” Thus it appears that the only ceremony 


These he Thy Gods , O Israel. 


1 2 1 



The Israelites 
become 
idolaters. 


was the pouring of oil upon the head, as an act of sanctification, and the 
putting on of the priestly garments. Though the office was conferred 
by a simple act, this fact did not detract any from the solemn obligations 
imposed, since the surroundings were sufficiently grave and holy to thor- 
oughly impress upon the inducted priests its sacredness, while the people 
needed no other evidence of authority thus bestowed by God than the 
holy light that shone always about the Tabernacle. 

Moses was so long upon Sinai talking with God that at the end of 
forty days, upon returning to the people he found that Aaron 
had made for them an idol out of the gold and jewelry which 
they had brought to him, and moulded it into a golden calf. 

Before this image the people were bowing in adoration, and 

had, by direction of Aaron, made a great feast and offered burnt-offerings 

and sacrifices to it. 

God was so angered at the Israelites for their idolatry, and so speedily 
turning away from 
Him after beholding 
so many of His mer- 
cies, that He re- 
solved to “ consume 
them from the face 
of the earth.” But 
Moses pleaded so 
earnestly for their 
lives that God con- 
sented to spare them, 
but not without some 
punishment which 
should be visited 
upon them in the future. When Moses came back to his people he brought 
with him the tables of stone graven with the ten commandments, but as he 
drew near he beheld the Israelites making merry before the golden calf, which 
so offended him that he threw down the tables and broke them. Then 
he called to Aaron and asked why the people had abandoned God and 


MOSES CALLED AARON AND HIS 
SONS TOGETHER. 


122 


Hew Thee Two Tables of Stone like unto the First. 

become worshipers of the golden image ? Aaron made reply that the 
people had come to him and begged him to make them a God, since they 
know not what had become of Moses; but he pleaded with his brother 
not to be angry with them. Moses now went and stood at the u gate of 
the camp,” and called aloud, “ Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come 
to me.” To this cry all the sons of Levi responded, and were told by 
Moses that God had ordered them to “ go in and out from gate to gate 
throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his 
companion, and every man his neighbor.” The children of Levi obeyed 
the command, and killed that day three thousand of the offending 
Israelites. 

After inflicting this punishment Moses took the Tabernacle, which 
had been prepared as the Lord had directed, and set it up some distance from 
the camp, and when all had been made ready he entered into 
slaughter of ve il beside the mercy-seat. God then appeared to him in a 

idolaters by the J rr 

Levites. cloudy pillar, which stood at the Tabernacle door, and talked 
with him, “ face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend,” 
while all the people looked on in wonder and praise. Here God con- 
firmed all that He had before promised and told Moses He would show 
him His mercy and glory. Moses was thereupon ordered to prepare other 
tables and go again, to the top of Mount Sinai, where God would write 
upon these stones the commandments in place of the tables that were 
broken. 

Moses did as the Lord willed, and remained on the mount fasting 
for another period of forty days and nights, talking with God, who gave 
him the new tables, and promised that if the people would cease their 
iniquities He would do greater things for them than ever before. Moses 
then returned to the Israelites, bearing the tables, and told them of God’s 
promises, and while he spoke to them his face shone brightly, so that they 
were afraid to come near him. 


CHAPTER VI. 



Ye shall keep my Sabbaths , and reverence my 
sanctuary . — Lev. 26. 2. 

OSES gave the law of the statutes, which God 

had made, to the people and established the 

days of thanksgivings and praise-offerings, and 

also the tithe rate which was to be given for the 

maintenance of the priesthood. After this the peo- 

e became very devout, seeing again how merciful 

le Lord had been to them, but withal there were 

yet some who disregarded the will of God and continued 

in their transgressions. The first instance of a relapse 

into sin after Moses’ last return from Sinai, is described in the Bible sub- 

% 

stantially as follows: 

Among the host of Israelites who came out of Egypt there was one 
Egyptian, or, rather, the son of an Egyptian by an Israelite woman. The 
mixing of blood between the master and slave was common 
during the Israelitish bondage, but in all cases such LevitlcaUaws* 
offspring were held in slavery. On a certain occasion, this 
half-caste fell into a dispute with one of the Israelites, and the two fought 
in the camp, during which contest the former blasphemed the name of 
the Lord. This event must have occurred soon after the last appearance, 
or manifestation, of God before . Moses and the people, and while the 
spirit of righteousness was upon them, else they would hardly have 
regarded the offence so gravely, as the entire camp was only a shoft 
time previously grovelling before the molten calf. 

But now the blasphemer was arrested and thrown into a ward, or 
jail, until he could be brought to trial. When the matter was referred to 
Moses he counselled with God, who directed that the offender be taken 

(123) 


124 


Do Not Drink Wine nor Strong Drink. 


out of the camp and there stoned by all those who heard the words of 
blasphemy uttered. This wrath of God, against those who took His 
name in vain, was thereafter formulated into a law, making the utterance 
of oaths punishable with death by stoning. 

Two years after the children of Israel were delivered out of bondage 
God ordered Moses to take a census of all the men in the camp, 

twenty years old and upwards, who were 
capable of taking up arms and doing bat- 


tle. The date fixed by Bible students 
when this numbering of the people took 
place was in May, 1400 B. C. 

The result of the census showed that over 
six hundred thousand men were in the camp 
subject to military duty, besides those of the 
tribe of Levi, who numbered eight thousand 
five hundred and eighty, who were exempt from 
all other duties than that of service in the 
sanctuary, from which it would appear that the 
two years of journeying in the wilderness of 
Sinai had not diminished the number that set 
out with Moses, but on the other hand showed 
a perceptible increase. 

After the census was completed by Aaron, 
to whom the work had been assigned by Moses, 
as the Lord commanded, u Moses divided among 
the families of the Levites the charge of the Tabernacle of the congre- 
gation and of the holy things,” and these he specially charged, by the 
Lord’s directions, as follows : “ He shall separate himself 
from wine and strong drinks, and shall drink no vinegar of 
wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any 
liquor of grapes, nor eat any moist grapes, or dried.” This was God’s 
first injunction against the use of strong drink, but in this case he 
forbade its use by the priests, lest in their drunkenness they might 
profane the holy things of the sanctuary, which offence the Lord 



AARON TN ROBES. 


The law against 
strong drink. 



AND HK GAVE UNTO MOSES 


TWO TABLES OF TESTIMONY 


( 125 ) 




126 The Cloud Covered it by Day and the Appearance of Fire by Night. 

promised He would punish by death. But notwithstanding this command, 
it was not long after the Tabernacle was dedicated that Nadab and 
Abihu, sons of Aaron, went into the holy sanctuary drunk with wine, 
and there offered “strange fire” on the altar of incense. This so 
offended God that He sent a fire which consumed them. It is probable, 
and it appears so from the reading, that this punishment wals inflicted 
upon Aaron’s two sons before God had given His law to the priests 
against drunkenness, and that their offence prompted the establishing of 
such a law. 

It was very soon, perhaps within a few days, after the numbering 
of the people by Aaron, that Jehovah told Moses to break camp and 
resume his journey toward the Mount of the Amorites, 
a fiammg pillar w ^ c | 1 wa s j n ^he southern part of modern Palestine. 

goes before 

the Israelites. During the continuance of the Tabernacle in the plain 
where it was first set up, the Lord hovered upon it in a 
cloud, but now this cloud was lifted, as the sign for the Israelites to 
depart from Sinai ; the Tabernacle was taken down, the herds gathered 
together, and everything being made ready, two silver trumpets were 
blown as a signal, and the march was taken up again toward the land 
of promise. God now appeared to the wandering host in the form of a 
cloud which went before them into the wilderness of Paran, a three days’ 
journey, where it stopped, to indicate that they should there encamp 
again for a short rest. While traveling, the Levites, to whom were 
given the priestly offices, carried all the paraphernalia of the Tabernacle, 
and these went before the Israelites, so that when the time for halting 
arrived they might fix upon a place to set it up, for in the Tabernacle 
was the Divine favor made manifest, as previously explained. 

While in the desert of Paran, which was an arid waste, difficult to 
travel through, troubles again began to assail the Israelites, which they, as 
usual, attributed to Moses, accusing him of bringing them out of a 
land of plenty that they might starve in the wilderness. Manna continued 
to fall from heaven,' which supplied them with bread, but of meat there 
was none, and for the want of this their murmurings were very loud. 
This greatly discouraged Moses, for he had done all within his power to 


We Remember the Fish we did Eat Freely in Egypt . 


12 7 



AND MOSES SENT THEM TO SPY OUT 
THE EAND OF CANAAN. 


preserve and lead 
aright his people, 
and in his dis- 
tress he called to the 
Lord and asked why 
so much trouble had 
been sent upon him, and 


128 


And while the Flesh was yet Between their Teeth. 

begged that he might die rather than continue to bear the burden of the 
Israelites’ complaints. 

God, though somewhat offended at Moses for desiring to evade the 
duties and responsibilities that had been placed upon him for a wise 
purpose, nevertheless heard his complaint with compassion, for He told 
Moses to select seventy men of the elders of Israel and to bring them 
to the Tabernacle ; which being done, upon these seventy God divided 
the responsibilities, so that they were assigned to such duties as made 
them answerable to the people in the same manner as Moses. 

The Lord now promised Moses that he would also feed the Israelites 
with meat for a whole month, although their fault-finding and rebellious 
spirit should not be left unpunished. Moses seems to have doubted 
God’s power to provide food for such a vast multitude, for he asks, 
“ Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them ? or shall all the fish 
of the sea be gathered together for them ? ” 

By the will of Omnipotence an east wind was now made to spring 
up, which brought such a vast number of quails that they fell on the 
ground over a space of thirty miles in diameter, and in places more than 
two feet in depth. Upon this innumerable legion of birds the 
starvation l srae lites began to feed themselves, but scarcely had they 

averted by a le- ° 7 j j 

gion of quails, placed the food within their mouths when a plague fell upon 
the people, as a punishment for their sins, of which many 
thousands died. To this day enormous flocks of birds pass at regular 
intervals over this region, so great at times as to obscure the sun, and 
render the statement of Moses readily credible, even aside of any miracle 
such as God here performed. 

The length of time that the Israelites tarried at the camp pitched in 
Paran is not indicated in the Bible narrative, but it could hardly have 
been more than a few days, judging by the events which followed. We 
are told that they arrived at Kadesh, which was by the mountain of the 
Amorites, in the southern part of Palestine, forty days before the vintage, 
probably in the early part of June. 

When the Israelites had gone into encampment at Kadesh, the Lord 
ordered Moses to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, into the land of 


Send Thou Men that They may Search the Land. 129 

Canaan, who should learn the number of people that dwelt in the country, 
what was their fighting strength, the manner of their living, whether in 
tents or walled cities, whether they were rich or poor, and whether the 
land was wooded or prairie. 

In obedience to this command Moses chose one from each of the 
twelve tribes of Israel and sent them to make a trip through Palestine, 
from the point of encampment to near the northern extremity. The spies 
accordingly set forth under the guidance and protection of 
God, and journeyed for a period of forty days, when they a land of giants 
returned to Moses and made their report. Two of the spies and grcat p,cnty * 
named Caleb and Joshua, came upon a vineyard, by the 
brook Eshcol, from which they cut a single cluster of grapes so large that 
it required their combined strength to carry it, slung upon a pole, back 
to the camp. The reports which the twelve 
spies made differed so materially that the 
effects were most momentous to all the 
Israelites. While they all declared with 
one voice that the land was indeed flowing 
with milk and honey, some of them per- 
sisted that the cities in which the people 
dwelt, — the Anakites, Amalekites, Hittites, 

Jebusites, Amorites, and Canaanites, — were 
surrounded by high and impregnable walls, 
while the Anakites were such mighty giants, 
and of such exceeding valor, that the Is- 
raelites were but as grasshoppers in com- 
parison. Caleb and Joshua, the two who had brought back the grapes, 
denied the reports of their comrades, and sought to induce the Israelites 
to go at once and take possession of the fair land, with its 

A contention 

immense wealth of fruits and treasure, and which they among 
stoutly maintained they had the strength to do. This con- the spies, 
tradiction and dispute among the spies led to a tumult among 
the people who, being prone to fear under the least provocation, threatened 
to stone Caleb and Joshua, and when they found Moses and Aaron also 



PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE. 


9 


130 In this Wilderness they shall be Consumed. 



disposed to go into the strange land, the Israelites rose in rebellion and 
sought a captain who would lead them back to Eg}^pt. 

Moses and Aaron both fell on their faces, and in anguish implored 
the people not to provoke the anger of God, but their supplications, as 
well as the assurances of Caleb and Joshua, only served to provoke them 
the more, for now they gathered up stones to kill the four, when sud- 
denly the glory of God blazed from about 
the Tabernacle and the people were awed, 
so that they withheld themselves from com- 
mitting mur- 
der. 

God was 
again so an- 
gered by the 
perversity and 
extreme sin- 
fulness of the 
Israelites in 
refusing to be- 
lieve in Him 
after all the 
signs and mi- 
racles which 
He had per- 
formed for 
their salva- 
tion, that He 
now resolved 
to destroy 

them by a pestilence ; but he promised to preserve Moses, and make his 
descendants a greater nation than that of which he was now the leader. 
But Moses interceded with the Lord in his people’s behalf and begged 
that their lives be spared, saying : “ Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity 
of this people, according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou 


FASHIONING THE FURNITURE FOR THE TABERNACLE. 


We Ourselves will go Ready Armed before the Children of Israel. 13 1 



hast forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” God at length con- 
sented to spare the lives of the Israelites, but He would punish them by 
compelling them to wander in the wilderness for a period of forty years, 
until all those above twenty years of age, who had heard Doomed to 

His voice and seen His miracles should die ; so that none wander for 

forty years. 

of them might come into the land which was promised, 
though their children should receive the inheritance and possess Canaan. 
Caleb, Joshua, Moses, Aaron, and perhaps others among the priesthood 
were exempted from this punishment, for though they too were doomed 
to wander with their peo- 
ple, they were suffered 
at last to behold the land 
which God had promised 
to give to the Israelites ; 
but the ten spies who had 
so excited the fears of the 
people were stricken with 
a plague and died. 

When the Israelites 
had heard this sentence 
they became greatly dis- 
tressed, but sought to 
force their way into the 
land of Canaan neverthe- 
less, and insisted on 
showing their courage by THEY BEAT THE GOED THIN plates. 

an immediate attack upon the possessors. Moses again told them not to 
proceed thus against the Lord’s will, since God would not protect them, 
and if they went they would certainly be attacked by the Amalekites and 
Canaanites. Notwithstanding this advice, and the refusal of Moses to 
allow the ark to be taken with them, early in the morning nearly all in 
the camp went up the mountain, where they were met by the Amalekites 
and the Canaanites, by whom they were defeated and chased in their 
flight as far as Hormah, several miles distant. 


132 They Rose up Before Moses . . . Two Hundred and Fifty Princes. 



The Bible does not tell us much concerning the forty years of 
wandering in the wilderness, thirty-seven of which period is a blank, no 
mention being made of a single incident that transpired during this time. 
The first three years of the Israelites in the wilderness are described in 
the Chronicles, after which nothing more is written until far toward the 
end of their journeyings, as we shall see. 

The first incident given after the Israelites 
were so badly defeated by the Amalekites and 
Canaanites, is concerning a man who was 
arrested for gathering sticks for firewood on 
the Sabbath day. This was 
a very grave offence, since 
God had given the law to 
Moses that no work should 
be performed on the Sabbath. 
In order to make this law 
effective it was now resolved 
to visit the offender with a 
penalty of such great severity 
that thereafter its observance 
would be general and faith- 
ful. Accordingly, when the 
man was brought before 
Moses he ordered the culprit 
to be taken outside the camp and there stoned to death in the same 
manner as blasphemers. 

Soon after this event there was a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, 
led by Korah, a Levite, and Datlian and Abiram, descendants of Reuben. 
Korah was in service to the priests, but he aspired at once to the priest- 
hood, while Dathan and Abiram sought to secure the leader- 
ship of Israel, basing their claims, probably, upon the fact 
that they .were descended from the eldest son of' Jacob, and 
therefore entitled to superior rights, according to the law of primogeniture. 
They urged their claims before the people, by declaring that Aaron had 


FOR HIS OFFERING TWO 
TURTLEDOVES. 


Rebellion of the 
Princes. 



Even To morrow the Lord Will Show Who Are His . 


taken too much authority and reserved for himself offices which should 
of right belong to the Levites, while the old cry went up against Moses 
that he had persuaded the Israelites to l£ave a land of plenty to bring 
them into a wilderness which threatened their extermination. These com- 
plaints found favor with a great number of the people, so that two hun- 
dred and fifty princes, famous in the congregation, espoused their cause, 
and were upon the 
point of attempting 
the overthrow of 

nacle, each with his 
censer, while Moses 
and Aaron and the 
people who re- ^ ' 

same. When this 

was done God told HIS OFFERING A KID 0F THE GOATS - 

Moses and his partisans to separate themselves from the rebels, that He 
might destroy them, but Moses interceded for them ; this intercession, 
however, did not this time avail, for when the two parties were separated the 
Lord caused the earth to open and swallow up the rebellious people, 
while fire came out from the Tabernacle and consumed the two hundred 
and fifty princes. The brazen censers which they carried were preserved, 
however, out of which Aaron caused plates to be made for a covering of 
the altar of burnt offering. It appears from the reading that only a part 
of those who favored the rebellion were destroyed by the earthquake, for 



altar as an atonement for the people, and to stand between the living 
and the dead, by which the plagne was stayed. This was a striking 
symbol of Christ’s mediation which should interpose to save those doomed 
to death by sin. 

God now chose to show to the Israelites, by a miracle, that Aaron 
had been selected by Him to discharge the chief duties of the priesthood, 


134 The Ground Clave Asunder that was Under Them. 

we are further on told that a great many of the people gathered before the 
Tabernacle to revenge the death of their fellow conspirators upon Moses, 
but the Lord 110W appeared in a cloud above the Taber- 

A symbol of 

atonement, nacle and sent a pestilence among the people which destroyed 
more than fourteen thousand of those who had favored the 
rebellion. The merciful disposition of Moses was now again strikingly 
shown by his command to Aaron to fill his censer with coals from the 


setting up the tabernacle. 




AARON AND HIS SONS PREPARING A BURNT SACRIFICE 


(*35J 





Thou Shalt Write Aar oil's Name on the Rod of Levi. 


136 



that the people might thereafter accept him without further complaiut. 
The Lord accordingly ordered that twelve rods, or sceptres, be chosen, 
one for each of the twelve tribes, upon each of which the name of the 
tribe to which it belonged should be written, the name of Aaron being 
upon the rod of Levi. These rods were ordered to be laid in the Taber- 
nacle over night. On the following morning, when the rods were taken 
out of the sacred place, behold that one bearing the name of Aaron was 

covered with buds and blossoms, and full 
grown almonds, while all the others were 
a but dry sticks. This was the 

sign that Aaron should be the 
fruitful sceptre 
of authority, 
the spiritual, 
life-giving pow- 
er, out of which 
should ulti- 
mately come the 
Messiah. 

It was a 
vivid emblem 
of “the rod of 
Jess e,” the 
“ B r a 11 c h,” 
springing up 
without the sus- 

FIRE SHAEE EVER BE BURNING UPON THE AI/TAR. tenance of Ua- 

ture, which in the prophets represents the spiritual and life-giving power 
of the Messiah. By the command of God it was laid up in the ark, for 
a perpetual memorial against rebellions. But Jehovah reconfirmed the 
law that committed the sanctuary to the Levites. 


CHAPTER VII. 


And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 

IRECTLY after the events just recorded had trans- 
pired, the Lord raised up the cloud which stood 
over the Tabernacle as a sign that the Israelites 
should leave Kadesh and continue their journey- 
ings. As the cloud went before, the people followed 
(which was about April, 1452 B. C.) through the 
wilderness of Sin, until they came to a place where 
there was no water, and the thirst was very great. As 
was their invariable habit, when difficulties arose, the 
Israelites began to murmur against Moses and Aaron for having brought 
them out of Egypt to die in the desert. When these complaints became 
very loud, Moses and Aaron went to the door of the Tabernacle to ask 
God what they should do. He commanded them to gather the people 
together and to take their rods and speak to a rock, which should there- 
upon give out abundant water. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord 
ordered, in calling the multitude together, but they were so vexed by the 
complainings and threats of the people that, instead of obeying the 
implicit instructions which God gave them, they said : “ Here now, ye 

rebels ; must we fetch you water out of this rock ? ” and then, instead 
of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice with his rod. The water 
thereupon gushed out abundantly, so that every one drank his fill ; 
but God was so displeased by the disobedience of Moses and Aaron 
that He called them to Him at Mount Hor and said that because of 
their rebellion against His will Aaron should die on Mount Hor, 
after his priestly garments were first stripped from him and put upon 
his son Eleazar. Aaron died as the Lord had predicted, and was 
buried on the mountain, while the entire camp of Israel went into 

(137) 



138 The Lord Sent Fiery Serpents among the People . 

mourning for a period of thirty days. The punishment which God pro- 
nounced against Moses for the sin in which Aaron w^as a sharer was not 
enforced until some time afterward, as we shall see. 

The wanderings of the Israelites from Mount Hor were by way of 
the Red Sea, for the purpose of passing around the land of Edom, to 
a plague of escape their enemies, with the hope of being able to enter 
poisonous the country by another route than the one fruitlessly attempted, 
serpents. gut they had not gone a great way from Hor before a 
new trouble assailed them ; whereupon they arose again against Moses 
and also found fault with God. Said they : “Wherefore have ye brought 



WHICH WHEN A EE THE PEOPLE SAW, THEY SHOUTED, AND FELL ON THEIR FACES, 


us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness ? for there is no bread, neither 
is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread (manna).” 

God was so angry at the people for their repeated complaints, in the 
face of the many evidences of His provident care, that He now sent fiery 
serpents among them, which bit the grumbling Israelites so that a great 
number died. In this plague of serpents the people observed God’s just 


Everyone that is Bitten , when he Looketh Upon it Shall Live. 139 



wrath, and now realizing their sin- 
fulness they begged of Moses that 
he would pray to the Lord to t; 
away the serpents and thus 
save them. Always merciful, 
Moses petitioned God in 
earnest prayer to save 
the people who had 
acknowledged their 
sin, and in answer 
thereto the Lord told 
him to make a 
serpent of brass 
and to place it 
upon a high pole 
in the centre of 
the camp, and 
that this 
should de- 
stroy the 


plague, for 
every one that 
was thereafter 
bitten, who 
should look 
upon the brazen ser- 
^ pent, should live. 

When the Israel- 
ites came near to the 


ABIDE AT THE DOOR OR THE TABERNACEE DAY AND NIGHT. CQ untry of the Am- 

orites Moses sent messengers to the king, whose name was Sihon, asking 
permission to pass peaceably through his territory, promising to do no 


140 


Og ) the King of Bashan , went Out Against Them. 


harm on the route, nor to go into any of the fields or vineyards, or even 
to take any water from the wells, but that he would pass through only 
by the regular roads. This humble request was not only refused, but 
Sihon collected his army hastily together and attacked the Israelites, 
without the least justification, at a place named Heshbon. But he paid 
dearly for his greed and obstinacy, for his army was badly beaten, so that 
the Israelites took possession, by right of conquest, of the whole country, 
including all the cities and villages. Here they dwelt for some time, 
enjoying everything that the land afforded until called to resume their 
wanderings. 

After leaving the land of the Amorites, Moses led his people toward 
the land of Bashan, which was ruled by a giant-king called Og. This 


king, whose bed was thirteen feet long, was as fierce and 
unjust as Sihon, for he, too, went out at the head of his 
large army and attacked the Israelites at Edrei, where a 


Defeat of Og, the 
great giant. 


great battle was fought. The Lord again favored his chosen people, so 
that Og and his army were completely annihilated, not a single one 
escaping. 

The period appointed for the wanderings of the Israelites was now 
drawing toward a close, and their journey ings were near to the land 
which had been promised them. After destroying the giant Og, they 
were masters of the entire region east of the Jordan River, and an extent 
of territory reaching a great number of miles north and south, while the 
neighboring kings were in the greatest alarm of an invasion by the 
victorious hosts of Israel. Therefore, when the Israelites pitched their 
tents on the arid plains of Moab, the king of the Moabites sought the 
Midian chiefs, with whom he made an alliance to resist the people of God 
and Moses. 

When the Israelites went into camp in the plains of Moab, they were 
in sight of the fair land of Jericho, which lay near beyond the Jordan ; 
but while waiting for the command to go forward and possess this fruitful 
heritage, the combined forces of Balak, king of the Moabites, and the 
Midian chiefs appeared in vast numbers on the hills of Abarim, from 
whence a view of the camp of Israel was plainly had. 


How Shall I Curse , Whom God Hath Not Cursed? 


141 



Balak, though at the head of a powerful army, was not disposed to 
hazard an engagement until he could send messengers to the greatest 
prophet in the land, Balaam, who lived at Pethor, in Mesopotamia, and 
bring him to the Moabitish camps to curse Israel. So great was the 
faith in this prophet, who was generally a godly man, that Balak believed 
if he could induce Balaam to deliver a curse against Israel that victory 
would be certain. 

In due time the messengers sent by Balak arrived at Balaam’s house, 
and acquainted him with their king’s wishes, telling him also that if he 
would come and curse Israel Balak would bestow upon him 
great riches. Balaam was a very covetous man, withal he T1 ^ 
had found such favor in the eyes of God that he had been 
permitted to prophesy truthfully, so that his fame had spread greatly 
abroad. But instead of returning an immediate reply to Balak, he requested 
the messenger to tarry with him until the morning, until he could consult 
with the Lord. From what had already transpired Balaam knew that the 
Israelites were God’s chosen people, and he should therefore have sent 
the messengers away at once, but 
his love of riches so sorely tempted 
him that he would fain seek an 
excuse for doing what Balak had 
requested. During the night God 


appeared to Ba- 
laam and asked 
him concerning the messen- 
gers that were in the house, 
but his reply being evasive, 
the Lord commanded, “ Thou 
shalt not go with them, nor curse that people, 


AND THE PRIEST SHALE 
LOOK ON HIM. 



142 


The People shall Rise Up as a Great Lion. 


for the}^ are blessed.” Accordingly Balaam sent the messengers away 
in the morning ; but when they had returned to Balak with their unfa- 
vorable report, the king sent more honorable envoys to Balaam, with 
promises of still greater rewards if he would come and curse Israel. 
Again Balaam neglected to send the messengers away, and thus tempting 
God he was permitted to follow his inclination to go to the Moabitish 
camp, but it was with the Divine injunction that he was only to speak 
such words as God should put into his mouth. 

The Lord saw how anxious Balaam was to earn the riches which 
Balak had promised, and determined that the sinfully inclined prophet 
Balaam is should have one more warning. He departed in the morning, 

arrested by with the princely messengers who had been sent to him, 

an angel. r jdj n g upon a she-ass, but had not proceeded far when an 

angel appeared in the way with a drawn sword. The iniquity that was 
in his heart blinded his spiritual vision, so that he could not see the 
angel, but the Lord had quickened the sight of the ass, which being 
frightened turned out of the road into the field. Balaam struck his 
animal sharply and turned her back into the road again, but for a second 
time the animal stood in the way of a narrow passage between two walls. 
The ass again shied so that Balaam’s foot was pressed hard against one 
of the walls, which so angered him that he beat the poor animal harder 
than before, until a second time he continued his journey, only to have 
his progress arrested for a third time in such a narrow passage that the 
angel blocked the way completely. The ass now not being able to go 
forward or turn round, lay down with her rider. At this Balaam was 
more angered than before, and he fell to beating the ass so violently 
that God gave to the animal the power of speech to exclaim : “ What 
have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times ?” 

“Because,” replied he, “thou hast deserved it in mocking 

The belabored _ 

me; had I a sword m my hand I would kill thee. To 

ass reproves ’ J 

Baaiam. this the ass answered, “ Am I not thine ass, upon which 
thou hast been used to ride ever since I was thine ; did I 
ever serve thee so before ?” Balaam could make no further reply than 
to admit what the ass had asserted, but still he did not* comprehend the 


i43 


There Shall Come a Star Out of Jacob. 



miracle that had been done, until the Lord caused him to see the angel 
standing in the way with a drawn sword. At this vision Balaam realized 
the wickedness of his intention and fell down on his face. The angel 
now spoke and warned him against his perversity, and said if it had not 
been for the ass he would have killed him. Balaam sought pardon for 
his great sin and begged that he 
might be permitted to return 
home ; but this the angel would 
not allow, because the Lord had 
a greater purpose for him ; for, 
instead of cursing the Israelites, 

God would compel him to bless 
them. 

As Balaam approached the 
Moabitish camp Balak came out 
to meet him, to show him greater 
honors and thus obtain his wish ; 
but Balaam told him of God’s 
warnings and tried to excuse 
himself. The king, however, still 
hoped to secure his desire by 

. . 1 , - THE SIN OF NADAB AND ABIHU. 

treating the prophet sumptuously, 

and he accordingly gave him a banquet to which were invited the princes 
•and great men of his camp, and on the following day brought him to the 
high places of Baal, from whence an excellent view of the _ . . 

Israelites was afforded. While they were on the mount of of sumptuous 
Baal the prophet ordered seven oxen and as many rams entertainment, 
to be prepared for a sacrifice, which were placed on seven altars ; and 
while they were burning Balaam withdrew a few paces to consult God. 
The prophet being moved by the Lord, now raised his voice within the 
hearing of Balak, and predicted the greatness which Israel should attain, 
and of how they should prevail over all their enemies ; concluding his 
prophecy by wishing that his lot might be with them in life and death. 
Balak was greatly provoked by the prediction of Balaam, but he did 


144 Stand Here by the Burnt Offering While I Meet the Lord. 

not yet abandon the hope of influencing the prophet to curse Israel, 
still relying upon promises of great reward, for he knew the cupidity 
of the man with whom he was dealing. So he took Balaam up to the 
top of Mount Pisgah and besought him to 
deliver his curse from this station. Anxious 



to win the reward promised, Balaam again ordered a sacrifice made of 
seven oxen and seven rams, and going off a little way he consulted the 
Lord, hoping that this time he would not be forbidden to do the will 


the; wades OF JERUSAI^M as they appear to-day. 



( 1 45 ~) 




■■ ■ ■ 




. «• ... ; 




146 


God is Not a Man that He Should Lie. 


of Balak. But he was no more successful than before, because God 
put into his mouth a prediction that greater glories than those previously 
spoken should come to the house of Israel, concluding with these words : 
And to show their future strength and success, “ the people shall rise up 
as a great lion, and lift themselves up as a young lion ; they shall not 
lie down until they eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.” 

This second prophecy of Balaam greatly incensed Balak, who com- 
manded him to make no more predictions, but in his eagerness to secure 
Cupidity that Balaam’s curse upon Israel, the king for a third time 
made Balaam repeated his efforts by taking the prophet to the top of a 
oppose God. kin called Peor, which looked toward the wilderness. No 
stronger evidence of the influence which money exerts upon a man was 
evei afforded than this instance, where, after God’s repeated warnings 
and His kindness so often shown to Balaam, the prophet’s cupidity for 
the third time tempts him to set aside the Divine will. We would suppose 
that when implored to do that which God had three times expressly 
forbidden, Balaam would turn a deaf ear to Balak’s entreaties ; but so 
far from doing this he orders, as twice before, a sacrifice of seven oxen 
and rams. He was upon the point of asking God’s advice again, when 
instantly the Spirit came upon him and he was made to exclaim, “How 
goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel. As the 
valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees 
of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the 
waters. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be 
in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom 
shall be exalted. God brought him forth out of Egypt ; he has, as it were, 
the strength of a unicorn ; he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and 
shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows. Blessed 
is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” 
All this prophecy was to the exaltation of Israel, whose 
glorious future was thus proclaimed. It was given like the 
description of a vision, which no doubt rose before the sinful prophet, and 
as in a dream he spoke of that which he beheld : Israel possessing all the 
fruitful valleys of Palestine, a power feared by neighboring nations, victor 


Prophecy of 
Israel's triumph 


I 47 


How Goodly are Thy Tents , O . . . Israel. 

in a thousand battles, and a people directed and protected by the omni- 
potent arm of the Almighty. 

Stung to madness by Balaam’s evil prophecies, Balak upbraided him 
soundly and bade him to be gone, “ for I thought,” said he, “ to have 



BETH-HORON, LOOKING TOWARDo THE MEDITERRANEAN. 


promoted thee to great honor if thou hadst answered my designs in 
cursing Israel, but the Lord hath hindered thy judgment.” Balaam was 
much depressed and excused himself by saying that he could only speak 
the words which God had put into his mouth. His unfathomable 
wickedness, however, was yet further shown — hoping thereby to still obtain 
a portion of the reward promised — by his advice to Balak to send fair 


148 


Israel Joined Himself Unto Baal-peor . 



daughters of the Moa- 
camp of the Israelites 
and otherwise corrupt 
practices unknown to 
The wicked ad- 
upon, and with 
were induced by 
them to worship 
and also to per- 
God’s resent- 
He ordered 
aters and hang 
was accordingly 
sins committed 
Lord would not 
Among the 
meon was one 
woman named 
prince, and 
his infamy in 
contempt of 
Moses, to his 


bites and Midianites into the 
to draw them into idolatry 
the people in introducing 
them before. 

vice of Balaam was acted 
such effect that the Israelites 
the fair daughters sent among 
even the gods of Baal-peor, 
petrate such foul acts that 
ment was fearfully exhibited. 
Moses to take the chief idol- 
them before the people, which 
done ; but there were other 
besides idolatry, which the 
suffer to go unpunished, 
princes of the house of Si- 
Zimri, who took a Midian 
Cozbi, the daughter of a 
leading her, as if to parade 


AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, MAKE THEE A FIERY SERPENT AND SET IT UPON A POLE. 


He Went After the Man of Israel Into the Tent. 


149 


tent, there committed an unpardonable abomination. No one attempted 
to punish the prince, because perhaps of his station and influence, until 
Phinehas, a grandson of Aaron, who observed the shameless act, went out 
from the assembly straight to Zimri’s tent and with a javelin ran both 
the offenders through and killed them while in the very act of pollution. 



I WIDE GIVE YOU RAIN IN DUE SEASON. 


As a punishment for their 
idolatry and lewdness God sent 
a plague among the Israelites 
which destroyed no less than 
twenty-four thousand of the. 
people, but the wrath of God 
was taken away by the act of 
Phinehas, and the plague stayed. For this act in defence of God’s laws 
Phinehas was highly commended, and upon himself and posterity the 
priesthood was perpetually settled. 

By direction of God Moses now ordered that another A Batt,c with thc 

J Midianites. 

census be taken of the Israelites who were above twenty 

years of age, that their effective strength for fighting might be determined. 


By this enumeration it was shown that there were 601,730 men capable 



150 There Was Not Left a Man of Them . 

of bearing arms, which was just 820 less than when the first census was 
taken before Sinai, thirty-eight years before. Considering the many thou- 
sands that had been destroyed in the meantime by plagues and visitations 


. • . 

I WILL MAKE YOUR CITIES WASTE, AND BRING YOUR SANCTUARIES UNTO DESOLATION. 


of God’s wrath, and the hardships through which the people had passed, 
their reproduction must have been very rapid. 

After the completion of the enumeration Joshua was consecrated by 
the high priest Eleazar as the successor of Moses, whom God had 
ordained should not enter the promised land because of his sin at the 
rock of Meribah, as already described. 




Vex the Midianites and Smite Them. 


I 5 I 


Although the fighting strength of the Israelites was not nearly equal 
to that of the Midianites and their allies, it was nevertheless determined 
to give them battle, in the Lord’s name, and to punish them for their 
artifice in sending their women into the camp of Israel to corrupt the 
people. The army was duly marshaled, and with the trumpets pealing 
they set forth for the mountains where the 
Midianites lay encamped, but 
ready for fighting notwithstand- 
ing Balaam’s unfa- 
vorable auguries. 



The battle was furious for a long 
time, but the Israelites were at length victorious, slaying not only Balak, 
but four other kings of Midian also, and all the males of 
the tribes. Among the killed wa£ the wicked Balaam, whose 
desire for the rewards of Balak was not diminished by 
God’s commands and miracles, and who, having espoused the Midian cause, 
was properly punished for his cupidity and treachery. 


Death of 
wicked Balaam. 




A DROUGHT IN THE JORDAN 
VAEEEY. 


* 5 * 


The Lord Showed Him All the Land of Gilead , Unto Dan. 



The results of this battle were of the utmost importance to the 
Israelites, for they now came into possession of the entire country east 
of Jordan, which was afterward given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 
Manasseh, but they were still confederated together for mutual defence. 

The line of separation between them was so dis- 
tinct, however, that a member *of one tribe was not 
permitted to marry the member of another, a 
law which was established in order that 
every one might enjoy the inherit- 
ance of his father. The time which 
God had appointed 


IF WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE, WII/T 
THOU BE GRIEVED ? -Job 4. 2. 




for the death of Moses was now near at hand. Already he had received 
a command to go up to the top of Mount Abarim, from whence he might 
Moses* last obtain a view of the promised land, but which he might 
words to his not enter. In the solemnity of the parting hour Moses 
therefore assembled all the people of Israel and there deliv- 
ered to them his last words, which must have been extremely affecting 
to those who remembered how their fathers, whom he had led out of 


God is Thy Refuge and Underneath Are the Everlasting Arms. 153 



bondage, bad so often rebelled against him and more than once sought 
his life for acts committed in fulfilment of God’s decrees that were given 
to promote their happiness. The forty years of their wanderings were 
now completed, but of those who first went out of Egypt with Moses 
not one who was at that time twenty years of age, save Joshua, Caleb 
and Moses, was living now; all had died, as the Lord had foretold, for 
the sin of rebelling against God 
and their chosen leader, as we 
have already described. 

When the people were all 
assembled Moses repeated to 
them the story of their tribula- 
tions in bondage and in wilder- 
nesses through which they 
had passed, not neglecting 
to remind them of how 
merciful and long-suffering 
God had been, and of 
the disobedience, un- 
ruliness and iniquity 
they had been so 
repeatedly guilty of ; 
but though it was 
primarily their own 
wickedness which 
brought upon him- 
self the sentence by J OB • • • rent his mantle . . . and felt down upon 

which he was for- 
bidden to enter the promised land, yet he had now no other feeling than that 
of love for his people, with whom he had striven and suf- Be thou faithful 
fered so long. He therefore instructed them in their religious unto God * 
duties, encouraged them to be faithful to God and promised them every 
blessing if they remained righteous, but that calamity would assail those 
who kept not the commandments. He also sang a song under inspiration 


154 Moses , the Servant of the Lord , There in the Land of Moab. 

of the Lord, in which he recited the compassion of God and the wrath 
which their iniquities would kindle; this song he charged the people to 
learn, as it might prove a witness for God against them. He then gave 
them a book of laws by which their temporal and spiritual affairs should 
be conducted, and ordered that it be placed in the side of the ark in 
charge of the Levites for their expounding. 

Having concluded his warnings and advice to the Israelites, “Moses 
went up from the plains of Nebo (the head ) to the summit of Pisgah 
The death of (the heights ), that is over against Jericho. And Jehovah 
Moses. showed him all the land of Gilead and Dan, and all 

Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Mannasseh, and all the land of 
Judah, even unto the uttermost sea, and the south, and the plain of the 
valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.” All this land God 
told Moses should be possessed by the Israelites, being the same that he 
had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When God had thus spoken 
the hand of death was laid upon Moses, and on this sacred spot of 
glorious prospect the great leader of Israel was buried by God, “in a 
valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor ; but no man knoweth 
of his sepulchre unto this day.” 

At the time of Moses’ death he was one hundred and twenty years 
old, his allotted years being three less than were given to Aaron who, 
being three years the elder, died at the age of one hundred and twenty- 
three years. By this reading it appears that Moses died within a very 
short time, a few months at most, after the death of Aaron. 


CHAPTER VIII. 



Behold , the fear of the Lord , that is wisdom . 

,HE most remarkable book of the Bible is that of Job, 
singular in many respects, for it has been variously 
interpreted, as an historic record of actual events in 
the life of a godly man, and as an allegory illus- 
trating the enduring faith of the truly righteous, but 
the splendid lessons which the story teaches are 
infinite in their goodness. Many theologians main- 
tain that this book is the oldest one of the Bible. 
It is believed, from the language of the text, that 
Job was contemporary with Moses, say 1520 B. C., but there is absolutely 
no means of determining when he lived. He makes no mention of either 
Moses or the exodus, from which it has been concluded that he lived 
some time anterior to the promulgation of the Mosaic law ; besides, the 
language is more nearly like the Arabic than that of any 
other book in the Bible. Ezekiel (xiv. 20) compares him 
with Noah and Daniel in righteousness, and as deserving 
f the largest favors that God bestows on man, while St. James (v. 11) 
refers to his patience as a maxim known to all men. 

At the end of the Greek and Arabic copies of the Book of Job, and 
also of the Vulgate (ancient Latin, or Roman Catholic version of the 
Scriptures) is found the following account of the patriarch, said to have 
taken from the Syriac: “Job dwelt in the Ausitis, on the confines of 
Idumaea and Arabia; his name at first was Jobah. He married an 
Arabian woman, by whom he had a son called Ermon. He himself was 
son of Zerah, of the posterity of Esau, and a native of Bozrah, so that 
he was the fifth from Abraham. He reigned in Edom, and the kings 
before and after him reigned in this order : — Balak, the son of Beor, in 
the city of Dinhabah ; after him Job (or Jobah). Job was succeeded by 

(155) 



1 56 Wrath Killeth the Foolish Man , and Envy Slayeth the Silly One. 



Husham, prince of Temau. After him reigned Hadad, the son of Bedad, 
who defeated the Midianites in the field of Moab. The name of the 
city was Arith. Job’s friends who came to visit him were, Eliphaz, of 

the posterity of Esau, 
and king of Teman ; 
Bildad, the king of 
the Shuhites ; and 
Zophar, king of the 
Naamathites.” 

Since there is 
nothing in Job which 
bears any connection 
with the historical 
narrative of Israel or 
any other people, we 
must conclude that the story 
is introduced with no other 
purpose than to serve as an 
illustration of the patience 
and resignation which those 
who truly love God and appreciate His 
mercy, should ever stand ready to 
manifest. Particularly appropriate was 
the example of Job in the time he 
lived, for we have seen, in the face of 
all the miracles and mercies of God in 
delivering the Israelites from bondage, 
how prone they were to idolatry and 
other forms of wickedness whenever dangers threatened or discomforts 
were encountered. Whatever its effects were upon the people, the lesson 
was a beautiful and practical one, and almost equally adaptable to our 
relations with God to-day. 

The Bible tells us that “ there was a man in the land of Uz 
(Aramsea) named Job ; and that man was perfect and upright, and one 


OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND. — Job 38. 1. 



houses, every one his day ; and sent and called for their three sisters 
to eat and drink with them.” When such feasts were made Job offered 
up burnt-offerings for each of his children and sanctified them, having a 
fear that while they outwardly appeared to serve God, yet their hearts 
might still harbor some impure thought. 

The righteousness of Job was greater even than his riches, which 
exceeded that of any other man in the east, but Satan had a mind to 


THEN THERE CAME UNTO HIM AEC HIS BRETHREN.— job 42. n. 


A Perfect and an Upright Man , that Feareth the Lord . 157 

that feared God and eschewed evil.” He had seven sons and three 
daughters who were his delight, for in them he took great pleasure. 
But besides these his possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 
1,000 bullocks, 500 she-asses, and other effects of great value. Each of 
his sons was provided with an estate of his own, for we are told that 

“ his sons went and feasted in their 


The Lord Gave , and the Lord Taketh Away. 


158 


First afflictions 
of Job. 


test him under afflictions, urging that distress would make the most 
upright unmindful of former blessings and turn his heart to bitterness. 

Trusting in his righteousness, God suffered Job to be perse- 
cuted by Satan in the following manner: When Job’s sons 
and daughters were feasting in the eldest brother’s house a 
messenger came hastily to the godly patriarch, and told him that the 
Sabeans had stolen all his oxen and asses, and killed all his servants ; 
another messenger came in while the first was yet speaking, to tell him 
that a fire had descended from heaven and burned up all his sheep and 
the shepherds that attended them ; then another ran in and told him 
that the Chaldeans had stolen all his camels and killed the servants ; 
still another came with information that while his ten children were 
feasting a great wind had blown down the house in which they were 
gathered and killed them. When Job heard this he “ rent his mantle, 
and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped ; 
and said, ‘ Naked came I unto the world and bereft of all I have shall 
I go out again. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed 
be the name of the Lord.’ ” 

In the hour of woe Job turned not away from God, but blessed the 
hand that had caused him to suffer. Satan asked permission to again test 
the righteousness of Job, saying, “ But put forth thine hand now, and 
touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.” By 
which he meant if God would afflict His devoted servant with keen 
bodily suffering he would become embittered in his heart and secretly, if 
not openly, denounce the cause. So the Lord answered, “ Behold, he is 
in thine hand ; but spare his life.” Receiving God’s permission to make 
this second test, Satan afflicted him with boils “ from the sole of his foot 
to the crown of his head.” 

Job’s sufferings were so great that he took a piece of broken pottery 
to scrape himself and sat down in ashes, as a sign of his inconsolable 
anguish. Seeing him in this adversity his wife called on him to curse 
God and die ; to which he answered : “ Thou speakest as a foolish 
woman speaketh ! What ! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and 
shall we not receive evil ?” 


They Sat Down with Him upon the Ground Seven Days . 159 

When Job had lain in his affliction for several days and his troubles 
were reported to all the people thereabout, three of his friends came to 
mourn with him and to give such comfort as they were 
able to afford. These three friends were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Thc ( three 

r complaining 

Zophar, who represented the wisdom of the age, being learned friends, 
in tradition and expounders of God’s laws. When they 
first beheld Job they were so affected by his supreme wretchedness that 
for seven days and nights they could not summon up courage to condole 



HOW LONG WILL YE VEX MY SOUL, AND BREAK ME IN PIECES WITH WORDS?— Job 19. 2. 


with him ; which seems to have rather increased his anguish, for his 
agony now forced him to curse the day of his birth. Then follows a 
discussion, the effects of which are felt to this day, for a principle was 
there established that is one of the foundation stones of God’s universal 
mercy to mankind. His friends insisted that his afflictions were caused 
by some disobedience to God, in proof of which they urged the law that 
suffering always proves the commission of some special sin. 


160 They that Plow Iniquity , and Sow Wickedness , Reap the Same . 


To this plausible reasoning Job replied that while he had no doubt 
of God’s justice, yet punishment does not always follow guilt, or even 
prove the commission of a sin. 



The three friends again persisted in the law of retribution, and cited 
many examples (xv.), to which Job answered by acknowledging that the 

hand of God is in his afflictions, but main- 
tains that it is not alone the 
ungodly whom God punishes, 
nor the righteous alone whom 
he prospers. He shows them 
that in all times, and under 
their own observation, the 
most wicked of men 
have enjoyed an undis- 
turbed life of prosper- 
ity, by which we must 
conclude that God ex- 
tends his mercy to all 
alike, reserving His 
punishments 
and rewards for 
his own good 
time, and in 
another world. 

Job bore his 
afflictions with 
composure for a 
time, but be- 
came less patient 

by reason of the argument of his friends, who continued to charge that 
his sufferings were undoubtedly due to the commission of some sin, 
and urged him to seek God for a pardon. Elihu, who also came to visit 
him, though younger than the three other visitors, rebuked Job for 
finding fault with God, and for seeking to compare the Lord with things 


AND EDIHU . . . SAID, I AM YOUNG ANrf YE ARE VERY OED. — Job 32. 6. 


The Wicked is Reserved to the Day of Destruction. 161 


of his own understanding. The discussion, after many days, was termi- 
nated by the voice of God Himself, who spoke out of a whirlwind, asking, 
“ Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge ?” 
He then calls on Job to answer Him how came all the things on the 
earth : the sea and its creatures, the land and its productions, the sky and 
its constellations, the heart and its understanding? Job humbled himself 
before God, being made conscious of his weakness and insignificance by 



the reflections thus excited ; whereat 
the Lord asked, “Wilt thou also dis- 
annul My judgments? wilt 
thou condemn Me, that thou 
mayest be righteous?” 

When God had 
thus spoken to 
Job and per- 


THEY SEND FORTH THEIR LITTLE ONES TIKE A FLOCK, AND THEIR CHILDREN DANCE.-J0b21.il. 


ceived how His servant was in earnest repentance for supposing that his 
afflictions were sent without proper cause, He rebuked the three friends 
for urging the law of retribution, and confirmed the prin- 
ciple enunciated by Job. He also commanded them to take J ^ 10 ' r * 
seven bullocks and as many rams to Job and offer them up fault-finders, 
as a burnt offering, saying : And My servant Job shall pray 
for you : for him will I accept ; lest I deal witfi you after your folly, in that 
ye have not spoken of Me the thing which is right, like My servant Job.” 


11 



162 


The Lord Blessed the Latter End of Job. 



The Lord now found the occasion ripe for rewarding Job for the 
patience and righteousness he had exhibited; accordingly, He gave him 
twice as much of everything as he had before, including sheep, oxen, 

camels, asses and household 
possessions. The patriarch’s 
brethren and sisters, and those 
of his acquaintance 
from all parts, now 
came to visit him, 
each bringing a present 
of money or jewelry as 
an evidence of his love 
and regard. After this 
the Lord also gave him 
seven sons and three 
daughters: of the latter 
it was said that no other 
women in all the land 
were so beautiful; and 
Job gave them an inher- 
itance among their brothers so that the 
family ties remained unbroken. Job lived 
one hundred and forty years after receiv- 
ing these double blessings and saw four 
generations of his children enjoying a prosperity sent by God. 

The book of Job is the least understood portion of the Bible. Not 
one has been able to discover when or by whom it was written, nor 
The most whether it is a description of a real incident or given as a 
eloquent book parable and example to instruct those who profess to love 
God in the obedience which they should yield to whatever 
affliction may be sent upon them. If accepted upon this latter explana- 
tion of its purpose, the book is incomparably grand. Thomas Carlyle, 
viewing it as a parable, says*: 


SHE DWELLETH AND ABIDETH ON THE 
ROCK. — Job 39. 28. 


Who is He that Hideth Counsel without Knowledge ? 163 



U I call that, the Book of Job, aside from all theories about it, one of 
the grandest things ever written with pen. One feels, indeed, as if it 
were not Hebrew; such a 
noble universality, differ- 
ent from noble patriotism 
or sectarianism, reigns in 
it. A noble book! all 
men’s book! It is our firs 
oldest statement of the 
never-ending problem 
— man’s destiny — and 
God’s way with him 
here in this earth . 

And all in such free, 
flowing outline; grand 
in its sincerity, in its 
simplicity, in its epic 
melody, and repose of 
reconcilement. There 
is the seeing eye, the mildly 
understanding heart. So 
true every way; true eye- 
sight and vision for all 
things ; material things no 
less than spiritual; the horse- 
thou clothed his neck with thunder?’ 

— he ‘ laughs at the shaking of the 
spear!’ Such living likenesses were 
never since drawn. Sublime sorrow, 
sublime reconciliation; oldest choral melody as of the heart of mankind; 
so soft and great; as the summer midnight, as the world with its seas 
and stars! There is nothing written, I think, in the Bible, or out of it, 
of equal literary merit.” 


hast 


THE RICH MAN SHALL LIE DOWN.— Job 27.19. 


CHAPTER IX. 

The Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land. 



>FTER the death of Moses, Joshua, whom the Bible 
first mentions as one of the twelve spies sent through 
Palestine, and who, with Caleb, found favor with the 
Lord, for urging the people to go up and possess the 
land, became the leader of Israel. He was the son 
of Nun, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, who was 
the younger son of Joseph, and who, we remember, 
received the chief blessing bestowed by his grandfather, 
Jacob. His name originally was Qshea, meaning helper , 
but Moses changed it to Joshua, thereby combining his 
original name with that of Jehovah, so that its significance 
would be, God the helper. 

At the time of assuming leadership of Israel’s hosts, Joshua was 
about eighty-three years of age. He had repeatedly shown his ability 
both in counsel and in command, and had proved so faithful a servant to 
Moses that it was no less the great prophet’s will than that of God that 
he should succeed to the responsible trust of being chief over the 
Israelites. 

When the successorship was therefore established God appeared to 
Joshua and told him to gather together all his people, and lead them 
invasion ofthc across Jordan into the land that Moses was permitted to 
land of Canaan. v i ew . There were many warlike tribes west of Jordan, and 
of such great numbers that to attack them in their own defences was 
very dangerous; nor could such a half-armed and poorly prepared army 
as the Israelites were hope to prevail, unless they received help from the 
Hand that had succored them so often in the hours of their deepest 
distress. To stimulate him to do that which was bidden God therefore 
assured Joshua that no man should be able to stand before him; that He 

(164) 



MOSES SPAKE UNTO ALL ISRAEL. — Deut. i. i. 


(165) 


1 66 Ye Shall Compass the City , all ye Men of War. 

would always be with him, and that the land of Canaan wonld be divided 
for an inheritance among the Israelites. “Be strong and of good 
courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God 
is with thee withersoever thou goest.” 

Joshua was greatly encouraged by the promises of God, and immedi- 
ately prepared to cross the Jordan with his army and invade the country 
of the Canaanites, his first object being to attack the city of Jericho, 
which stood in a plain, six miles west of the Jordan. This place was 
the largest, richest and best fortified city in all Canaan, being the chief 



THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA. 


depot on the highway between Palestine and Egypt. It was situated in 
the midst of a grove of palm-trees, from which it took its name, which 
means city of palms , and was surrounded by a great wall, with gates for 
entrance which were shut at night or when danger threatened. At 
intervals along the walls were observation houses, from which an extensive 
view was obtained of the surrounding country, and here guards were 
stationed to give the alarm should any hostile body of men approach. 
At the time of which we write, the news of the victories of the Israelites 
and their encampment near to the city had spread all over the country, 


Ye View the Land , Even Jericho. 167 

so that Jericho, as well as other cities within the region, was in a state 
of preparation in anticipation of an attack. 

Before passing the Jordan, prudence admonished Joshua that he should 
first gain some positive information respecting the strength 
of the forces within Tericho, and to acquire that he sent two Sp,es conccalcd 

in Rahab’s 

spies with instructions to enter the city and ascertain such house, 
things as might be of service for his army to know. 

The spies set out accordingly, and their object not being suspicioned 
by the Canaanites, they had no trouble in gaining entrance to the city. 



A BRANCH WITH ONE CLUSTER OF GRAPES.— Nutn. 13. 23. 

They found lodging on the first night in the house of a dissolute woman 
named Rahab, who, it appears, discovered their purpose ; but she was so 
impressed bv what she had heard — that the Israelites were the chosen 


i68 


The Woman Took the Two Men and Hid Them. 



people of God, and therefore under His protection, that instead of giving 
them over to the authorities she concealed them from the king’s officers. 

The text is somewhat confusing, so that it is impossible to understand 
positively whether, upon discovering the spies, Rahab reported their 
presence to the king and afterward repented and concealed them, or whether 
the report of their being at Rahab’s house was circulated by some member 
of her household. We are told, however, that 
when the king’s officers came to her house 
and ordered her to deliver up the 
*~~n, she admitted that they had 
been in the house, but had 
now departed out of 
the city toward the Jor- 
dan. This seemed to sat- 
isfy the officers, for they 
went out immediately to fol- 
low, as the woman had di- 
rected. After their departure, 
Rahab called the spies, and tak- 
ing them to the roof of her 
house, there covered them with 
flax which had been laid to dry, 
and so kept them hid until it 
was dark. She now came to 
them and exacted a promise that 
when the Israelites should come 
into the city they would save her and her family from death. This 
promise being given, she let down the spies by a scarlet line from a 
window of her house that overlooked the walls, which cord was to remain 
suspended thereafter to indicate her house to the Israelites. 

The spies make ^ 

their escape. Tlie s P les esca P ed by the strategy of Rahab, but know- 

ing that the Canaanites were still searching the country for 
them they fled to the mountains, and there remained for three days before 
they were able to return to Joshua. When at last they came before the 


GET THEE UP INTO PISGaH.— D eut. 2 


169 



The Lord Your God Dried up the Waters of Jordan. 


great leader of Israel, they told him how all the Canaanites were without 
courage and would not fight because they believed, as did Rahab, that 
God was commanding the Israelites and doing wonderful miracles to 
bring them into possession of the land. 

Upon receiving the spies’ report Joshua ordered his army and his 
people to break camp and march to the Jordan River, where they stopped 
for three days, and the ark was set up. During 
this time Joshua sent his officers through the 
host, to tell them that when they should see 
the priests take up the ark of the covenant and 
move forward, then all Israel should follow after 
them, but they must not approach nearer than 
two thousand cubits (about half a mile). Then 
Joshua bade the people 
to sanctify themselves, 
for on the morrow the 
Lord would show them 
great wonders. 

When the morrow 
arrived, Joshua called 
all the people to witness 
a miracle which God was 
about to do, to show 
them that He was with 
them in their undertak- 
ing; he then told them 
to stand by Jordan’s 
brink, while one member from each of the twelve tribes should take up 
the ark and bear it across the waters (which were now greatly swollen, 
as is usual during the harvest time). The people did as Waters of the 
they were instructed, and stood upon the brink while the Jordan are 
twelve men chosen took up the ark and started with it toward 
the swift-flowing river ; but as they dipped their feet into the stream the 
waters parted, as did the Red Sea, and left a dry path by which all the host 


SLAYING THE PASCHAL LAMB.— Num. c 


170 Manna Ceased . . . after They had Eaten of the Old Corn. 



passed over. But when they had arrived on the other side the waters 
still remained parted until representatives of the twelve tribes were sent 
by Joshua to the dry bed of the stream to take up from there as many 
stones, which were ordered to be carried and deposited in the place where 
they should lodge at night. After this order was given, Joshua commanded 
the twelve to return again to the midst of the dry bed with as many 
stones, and there set them up as a witness of the miracle which had been 
performed. When this was done, the waters came together 
as before and overflowed the banks. 

When night came on, 
the Israelites en- 


, ~ - . . , r PRINCES.— Num. 7. 

camped at Gilgal, m sight 01 
Jericho, and there set up the twelve stones that had been brought out of 
the Jordan, as a memorial of the great thing which God had done. This 
event transpired, as Biblical scholars assert, April 13, 1451, B. C., which 
was the day preceding that appointed for the selection of the Paschal Lamb, 
and the next day the people kept the Passover, which was its first cele- 
bration on the soil of their inheritance since leaving Egypt. 

On the day following the sacred ceremonies the Israelites tasted 
bread made from corn which was taken from the Canaanites, and hence- 
forth lived off the product of the land, as manna ceased to fall on this 
date. 


Everything was now in readiness for the march against Jericho, but 
as Joshua went forward he saw standing in his way a man with his 
sword drawn, as if disputing the passage. Joshua challenged him saying, 
u Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ? ” To which reply was made, 



THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH AND SWAEUOWED THEM UP. — Num. 16. 32. I 1 ? 1 ) 


172 


- Shout ; for the Lord hath Given You the City . 

“Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” Joshua 
then perceived that it was an angel who had spoken, and he fell on 
his face to worship, saying, “ What saith my Lord unto 


An angel stands 
before Joshua. 


His servant?” The angel then told him to take off his 
shoes, as he was now standing upon holy ground ; and 
when he had thus done, the angel spoke again, saying, u See, I have 
given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty 
men of valor. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and 
go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And 
seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns ; 
and on the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the 
priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that 
when they make a long blast with the rams’ horns, and when ye hear 
the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout ; 
and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend 
up every man straight before him.” 

Joshua observed well all the instructions which had been given him, 
and sent his army to march round the city, preceded by the ark carried 
by priests, once every day for six days ; and on the seventh 
Capture and ^ a y they marched about Jericho seven times, and then blew 

sack of Jericho. 

the trumpets and shouted as they had been commanded, 
when, behold, the walls of the city tumbled down and there was no 
defence remaining. The Israelites now rushed into the city and put to 
the sword every man, woman, child, ox, sheep and ass that they found 
therein, sparing nothing except Rahab and her family, according to the 
promises made to her by the spies. Thus was Jericho utterly demolished, 
and Joshua set his curse upon any one who should attempt to rebuild 
it. The curse was afterward fulfilled when Hiel, a Bethelite, attempted 
to restore the city, for Abiram, his oldest son, died while he was lying 
the foundation, and Segub, his youngest, expired while the gates were 
being set up. 

Rahab, although a depraved woman, was richly rewarded for her 
faith and good services by being given a distinguished position among 
the 'Israelites. She married Salmon, probably one of the spies, and 


Get Thee up ; Wherefore Lieth Thou thus upon Thy Face. 173 



became the mother of Boaz, who was afterward the great-grandfather of 
David, and was thus in the genealogy of Christ. 

But among the Israelites who participated in the sack of Jericho 
there was one who committed a great sin, which resulted in a disaster 
to his people at the attack 
upon Ai, the next city that 
was besieged, Joshua 
gave an order, before 
Jericho had fallen, 
that all the gold and 


wmm 


AND, BEHOLD, THE ROD OF AARON WAS BUDDED.— Nura. 17.8. 


silver which might be captured should be placed in the sacred treasure 
and there kept for the service of the Lord. This one recreant, who was 
quite as avaricious as Balaam, in the excitement of the pillage, seized 
upon a rich Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and 
a wedge of gold valued at fifty shekels weight. These he hid by burying 
them in the earth beneath his tent, where they were afterward found by 
men whom Joshua sent to search for them. 

The culprit was not apprehended, nor was he known until God chose 
to reveal him in His own mysterious way, as will be explained. 


174 


There is an Accursed Thing in the Midst of Thee . 



HE SMOTE THE ROCK TWICE, AND 
THE WATER CAME OUT ABUND- 
ANTLY. — Num. 20. ii. 

reason of the losses sus- 
tained, as for the effect it 
had upon the Israelites, who 
feared God had forsaken them. Joshua and the elders fell down in mourning 
before the ark and cried aloud to Jehovah. Their prayers were answered 
by a command which God gave to Joshua to sanctify the people, and on 
the morrow cast lots to determine who was the offender. When the 
casting was first made it fell upon the tribe of Judah, next on the 
family of Zerah, and the third time upon the house of Zabdi, all of 


The Israelites 
defeated at Ai. 


The city nearest to Jericho, possessed by the Canaanites, was called 
Ai, and to this place Joshua sent out spies as before. They reported 
the place to be poorly defended and so easy of capture that 
a detachment of only three 
thousand Israelites was 
sent against it. Instead of meeting 
with an easy victory the Israelites were 
defeated with a loss of thirty-six men, 
and were pursued as far as Shebarim. 

This defeat was not so disastrous by 


All Israel Stoned Him with Stones , and Burned Them with Fire . 175 



whom were taken before Jehovah at the ark and there examined. Among 
the number was Achan, the son of Carrni, whom the Lord caused to 
make a confession of his guilt. The culprit was speedily stoned to death 
and his body burned, together with his children, cattle and tent, while 
over the ashes was raised a cairn to mark the place of execution, 
which place was called Achor, meaning trouble. 

After Achan had been punished, God appeared to 

Joshua and 
bade him 
take courage 
again, for he 
should con- 
tinue to be 
victorious 
until all 
Canaan was 
subjugated. 


AND HID THEM WITH THE STAEKS OF FI.AX. — Joshua 2 . 6. 


God also told Joshua to renew the attack upon Ai, which would fall into 
his hands if he heeded these instructions: He (Joshua) should take a 
force of five thousand men and lead them beyond the west 
side of Ai, where they were to lie in ambush near the city, J °he King ^Ai* 
ready to rush upon it when the sign should be made ; 

Joshua was next directed to take thirty thousand more men and appear 
in the valley before Ai, as if to challenge the people therein to combat : 
but when the army of Ai should come out, Joshua was ordered to flee 
before them as if in great fear, and by this strategy was to draw them 


iy6 Joshua Chose Out Thirty Thousand Mighty Men of Valor. 


away from the city, so that the five thousand lying in ambush might 
rush out of their covert and thus possess its defences. 

These instructions Joshua obeyed and found everything to transpire 
as the Lord had promised, so that when the king of Ai came out Joshua 
fled with his army, which gave so much confidence to the people of Ai that 

every man therein left the city 
and went in pursuit of the Is- 
raelites. They followed these 
so far that when they left off 
pursuing and started to return 
they saw their city in flames and 
being pillaged by the five thou- 
sand whose presence had not 
been suspected. This did not 
end their troubles, for they were 
now in a valley between two 
armies of the Israelites, unable 
to escape, and overwhelmed by 
superior forces. In this posi- 
tion Joshua fell upon them with 
both wings of his army and put 
every man, woman and child to 
the sword, with the exception 
of the king of Ai, whom the 
Israelites captured and after- 
wards hanged upon a tree. Over 
his body was gathered a great 
heap of stones, which were 
placed as a memorial of the 
city, and are said to remain 
there to this day. 

The Biblical account of the 
capture of Ai intimates that the 
town of Bethel was taken and 



THEN SHE EHT THEM DOWN BY A CORD THROUGH 
THE WINDOW. — Joshua 2. 15. 


He Wrote There Upon the Stones a Copy of the Lazo of Moses. 177 



sacked at the same time, but 
gives no particulars by which 
we might form an opinion of 
the importance of either place. 

However, we do know that 
by this victory the Israelites 
gained possession of all the 
principal passes in the Jordan valley and obtained unobstructed access to the 
open country in the region of Central Palestine, though the main body was 
kept encamped at Gilgal on account, no doubt of its strategic position. 

The victorious march of the Israelites through Palestine spread 
terror among the people of all Canaan until, for mutual defence, the 


AND THE CONGREGATION STONED HIM 
WITH STONES. — Num. 15. 36. 


12 


1 78 They went to Joshua , unto the Camp at Gilgal. 

kings west of Jordan and as far north as Lebanon, formed a league and 
consolidated their forces to oppose the further advance of Joshua. These 
kings, though no doubt invested with royal prerogatives, 

A league of . . 

Canaanitish held dominion over limited districts, with a city as the capital, 

kings. so that they were scarcely more than municipal masters ; 

and their influence was further diminished by the perpetual 
feuds which existed between them. But the invading hosts of Israel 
were regarded as a common enemy, come to despoil all the cities without 
regard to the tribal ownership, so, for the time being they ceased warring 
against each other and formed a confederation which increased their 
strength and gave them hope of being now able to drive the Israelites 
out of Canaan, and thus retain possession of their native land. 

There was only one tribe, of all the numerous hordes that claimed 
a portion of Palestine, which sought to escape the sword of Israel by 
suing for peace and protection. This tribe was the Gibeonites, whose 
city, then called Gibeon, but now El-jib, was chief of the four cities of 
Hivites and lay directly opposite the pass, or valley of Ai, so that it 
was the next city Joshua intended attacking. 

The Gibeonites had heard of some of the wondrous things performed 
by the Israelites by Divine assistance, and though they were idolaters, 
and knew nothing of the true God, their fears were greatly 
a strategy of exc ited by the miracles which were reported to them as 

the Gibeonites. . 

having been done by the Israelites, and their confidence in 
the confederation of the Canaanitish kings was by no means strong. 
They had recourse to a curious strategy to obtain an interview with 
Joshua, knowing that if they should appear before him as Gibeonites he 
would not treat with them, and at the same time appreciating the 
necessity of immediate action before the Israelites should move upon their 
city. This strategy consisted in a delegation of a dozen or more elders, 
or wise men of Gibeon, clothing themselves like so many way-worn 
travelers, with ragged and dust-laden clothes, old mouldy provisions and 
unkempt beards and hair, and in this tired and faint appearance they 
came before Joshua, claiming that they had traveled from a very far 
country, and thirsted and hungered greatly upon the way. They further 


Let Them Live ; but let Them be Hewers of Wood. 179 



asserted that they had heard of the fame of Jehovah and of His wonderful 
deeds for Israel, and had come to form a league with God’s people. 

Instead of consulting the oracle before the ark, as the Lord had 
admonished him, as the successor of Moses, to do, in all cases involving 
the welfare of his people, Joshua was immediately convinced of all the 
Gibeonites had told him, ^ and thereupon entered into a league, or 


treaty, with them, 
were to be spared, 
league was formed 
eonites, Joshua 
against Gibeon, 
the point of at- 
came out and re- 
treaty and promise 
he had made. 

Joshua now per- 
ceived how he had 
been deceived by 
the representations 
of the travel-worn 
strangers, but, not- 
withstanding the 
grumblings of his 
army, he respected 
the promises he 
had made and 
spared the Gibeon- 
ites. But, by di- 
rection of God, 

their deceit was punished by Joshua ordering 
that they should henceforth be slaves to the Israel- 
ites, and should be “ hewers of wood and drawers of 
water for the house of God forever.” Five of the other 
kings of cities in Palestine, learning of the defection of 


by which their lives 
Three days after a 
with the cunning Gib- 
and his army went 
but when he was upon 
tacking it the people 
minded him of the 


CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF THE 
EORD AM I. — Joshua 5. 14. 


180 Come up . . . and Help Me that We May Smite Gibeon. 



the Gibeonites, consolidated their forces and laid siege to Gibeon, intend- 
ing to take the city — or, rather, the four cities, belonging to the Gibeonites 
— and put the people to death. 

When the Gibeonites saw the approaching armies of the Amorites, 
under the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, and 
knew their hostile intentions, they sent messengers to Joshua, 
The battle of w k ose cam p was s till at Gilgal, begging him to come and 

Beth- horon. 

help them. The cry for help was 
not in vain, for Joshua at once assembled his 
army and, by a forced march 
during the night, fell upon 


AND JOSHUA SENT MEN FROM JER- 
ICHO TO AI — Joshua 7. 22. 


the confederated Amorites early 
in the morning at Beth-horon, 
and routed them with great 
slaughter, but not until the battle had waged 


AND THE) sun STOOD STIEU, AND the; MOON stayed.— Joshua 10. 13 



(idi ) 









1 82 The Lord Cast Down Great Stones from Heaven upon Them. 

with uncertain results for nearly the entire day. In this fight Joshua 
received such direct aid from God that his own generalship seerns to 
have played no conspicuous part, and to Jehovah must all the credit be 
given. 

When, at even time, the Amorites began to give way and were retreat- 
ing down the hill of Beth-horon, a great hail-storm was sent upon them, 
the stones of which were so large that more were killed in the storm than 



JOSHUA STRETCHED OUT THE 
SPEAR THAT HE HAD IN HIS 
HAND TOWARD THE CITY. — 

Joshua 18. 8. 

were slain by Israel’s sword. 

Panic now seized them, and 
the combined Amorite army was able, 
to offer no further resistance against their 
relentless pursuers. The sun, however, was 
now shining low in the heavens, and the rapid approach of night would 
put an end to the slaughter, when Joshua prayed to God that the sun 
might stand still upon Gibeon, and the moon remain bright over Ajalon 
— an adjacent city. This prayer was answered, for the sun did not go 
down that day but stood in the heavens until the Amorites were nearly 
all slaughtered, and the five Kings pursued to a place in the plains by 


Come Near , Put Your Feet upon the Necks of These Kings. 183 

the sea, where they hid themselves in a cave. Here they remained only 
a short time in security, for they were soon discovered, and, at the bidding 
of Joshua, they were captured and brought before him, who ordered, as 
God had directed, the Captains of Israel to each put his foot upon the 
necks of the five kings, as a sign that thus should Israel do to all her 
enemies. After this, the kings were hanged on a tree, where their bodies 
remained until evening, when they were cut down and thrown into the 
cave where they had first hidden, and the mouth of the cave was then 
closed with great stones. 

“ So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, 
and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings; he left none 
remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of 
Israel commanded. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even 
unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. And all 
these things and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the 
Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.” 

The battles which Joshua fought in Canaan were very many, but 
only a few are described in the Bible. His conquests, how- 
ever, are summed up in the subjugation of no less than Joshua ^ con 

’ r J quest of Canaan 

thirty-one kings on the west of Jordan, besides Sihon, Balak 
and Og, whom he defeated before crossing the Jordan for Jericho. These 
kings ruled as many cities, but in not every instance did defeat of the 
Canaanites lead to an occupation of the cities, for we know that Jerusalem, 
whose king was slain at Gibeon, was not captured until after the death 
of Joshua. Several other cities, though subjugated, did not fall into the 
hands of the Israelites until some time after the events just narrated. 

But in defeating the thirty-one kings, Joshua came into possession of 
all the country belonging to the seven nations which was first promised 
to Abraham, viz. : The Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, 
Jebusites and Girgashites, but there still remained a considerable portion 
of Palestine unsubdued, which, however, God promised anew should be 
given to the Israelites. These latter conquests were not reserved for 
Joshua, for he was now old, and had been fighting almost continually for 
six years. But the time had now come for a division of the whole of 


184 As the Lord Commanded Moses . . . They Divided the Land. 

Palestine among the tribes of Israel, which Joshua proceeded to award as 
God had directed him to do. The division was made by allotment among 
the nine and a half tribes, the two and a half tribes having already 
received their portion from Moses east of the Jordan. The Levites were 
not included among the tribes who were to receive an inheritance of land, 
for u Jehovah, God of Israel, was their inheritance,” they being consecrated 
to the priesthood. This would have left eleven tribes to be provided for, 
but the tribe of Joseph was 


divided into the tribes of 
Ephraim and of Manasseh, 
so that there still remained 



twelve, as originally. When the allot- ff 
ments had all been made, Joshua reserved 


for himself Timnath-serah, in Mount Ephraim, where he built a city and 
gave to it the name Timnath. There were then appointed six cities of 
refuge, three on the west of Jordan, viz. : Kadesh, Shechem and Hebron ; 
and three on the east, viz. : Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. To the Levites 
forty-eight cities were given, which were awarded in proportion to the 
possessions of all the other tribes. 



(i8 5 ) 


THEY BLEW THE TRUMPETS, AND BRAKE THE PITCHERS.— Judges 7. 19. 


Behold , this Day I am Going the IVay of all the Earth. 


1 86 



Joshua, being now feeble from age, and realizing that but a few 
months separated him from his grave, sent for all the judges, officers and 
heads of tribes to come before him, as Moses had done before ascending 
Joshua’s last Mount Pisgah, and when they had gathered he gave them 
exhortation to an exhortation to be courageous and to keep and do all that 
his people. j s wr itten in the book of the law of Moses. This was the 
sum of his advice, but he enlarged this counsel so that it might be more 
effective, by rehearsing all that God had done for Israel since the day 

of their com- 

4 . ing out of 

Egypt. He 
reminded 
them that of 
t he mse Ives 
they could do 
nothing, but 
that through 
the aid of Je- 
hovah they 
had triumphed 
over their en- 
emies and be- 
c o m e pos- 
sessed of cities 
which they 
had not built, 
and of vine- 
yards which 

He exhorted them especially not to affiliate or 


THE SCAPEGOAT. — Eeviticus 16. 21, 22. 


they had not planted. 


marry with the idolatrous people of Palestine, nor to cease striving for 
the rest of the land which God had promised, and warned them that 
the day they departed from his counsel and forgot their duties to Jehovah, 
they should certainly be scattered and driven from the land that had been 
given them. 



Israel Served the Lord all the Days of Joshua. 187 

To the exhortations of Joshua the people responded by promises to 
fulfill the law of Moses and to cleave unto the God who had blessed them 
so abundantly. Thus was a new covenant made, for a witness of which 
a great stone was set up under an oak tree, perhaps the same shade 
under which Abraham and Jacob had spread their tents. 

Soon after the establishing of the covenant Joshua died, being aged 
one hundred and ten years. He was buried on the borders of his inherit- 
ance, in Timnath-serah, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. The 
death of this great and good man was properly bewailed by the Israelites, 
for of all of Israel’s host he was perhaps the most righteous. Moses and 
Aaron had sinned repeatedly, but of Joshua there is not written a single 
act wherein he transgressed God’s will. 

Directly after Joshua’s death Eleazar, the high priest, the son of 
Aaron, sickened and died also. He was buried beside his son Phinehas, 
who, we remember, killed Prince Zimri for sinning with the Midian woman, 
in Mount Ephraim. 


A BROOK AT THE BASK OK MOUNT KPHRAIM. 


CHAPTER X. 



Who shall go up for us against the Catiaanites f 

HE victories of Joshua made the Israelites a stronger 
people than they had ever been before, for by con- 
quest of the fairest portion of Palestine they began 
to assume the dignity, power and concrete form of 
a nation which was thoroughly established a few 
years later as the narrative will disclose. Though 
Joshua was a valorous, skillful and invariably successful 
leader, through God’s help, when he died, a considerable 
portion of Palestine still remained to be subjugated, so that 
the incentive to war remained, especially in the southwest region. 

The generation which lived in the time of Joshua continued faithful 
to the laws which the}" were exhorted to observe, but when these had 
finally perished, the next generation forsook God, neglected to regard the 
counsel of their fathers and degenerated so rapidly that they were soon 
confirmed idolaters. Their iniquities began by marrying, against the 
injunctions of Joshua, among the seven nations they had conquered; and 
from this a worship of the god Baal, in groves sacred to this false deity, 
was very soon instituted and the true God utterly forgotten. 

For the idolatrous iniquities of the Israelites, God gave them proper 
punishment by sending the king of Mesopotamia against them, by whom 
they were not only beaten in battle, but were kept in slavery for a term of 
eight years. In their afflictions only did they remember God, and while 
their backs were sorely burdened they called aloud for deliverance. Their 
petitions were not without avail, for the Lord appointed Othniel, a younger 
brother of Caleb, as a leader of Israel, and he led the Israelites in a 
revolt against the king of Mesopotamia, and in a great battle which followed 
he gained a decisive victory that freed his countrymen. After this fight the 
Israelites were at peace for a period of forty years. 

(188) 


They Forsook the Lord and Served Baal and Ashtaroth . 


189 


But when Otlmiel died, who had been a wise and God-fearing judge in 
Israel, the people relapsed again into sinful ways and again provoked the 
Lord’s anger, so that Eglon, king of Moab, formed an offensive Enslavement 
alliance with Ammon and Amalek, who combined their forces of the 
against the Israelites, whom they beat at Jericho and cap- Israelites, 
tured the city, reducing the inhabitants to slavery, in which condition they 
remained for eighteen years. 

The wars in which the Israelites were beaten, by reason of their dis- 
obedience and idolatry, did not involve all the chosen people at one time. 


THE WILDERNESS OF SiNaI, WADY MO KATE ii 

As already stated, when Joshua made a division of all the land among 
the twelve tribes, he did not confine the division to those portions of 
Palestine that had been subjugated, but because God had promised that 
all the country should be given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and 



190 The Lord Raised them up a Deliverer , Ehud , .Stf/z of Gera. 



Jacob, Joshua allotted the whole of Palestine — those portions that yet 
remained in possession of the enemies of Israel, as well as those that 
had been taken and occupied. It was the efforts made by those members 
of the tribes whose allotment fell to districts unsubdued, that led to such 
repeated wars, in which, because the tribes neglected God’s ordinances and 
covenants, the results were not always favorable to the Israelites. 

After the Hebrews had served Eglon for a period of eighteen years, 
a deliverer appeared in the name of Ehud, a Benjaminite (generally written 
The assassina- Benjamite), who was left-handed. Ehud did not foment an 
tion of King uprising among the people as Othniel had done, but had 
Eg,on recourse to a strategy which served his purpose most effec- 
tively. Making for himself a dagger, with this weapon concealed under 
his cloak he awaited outside the king’s door, while he sent in a messenger 
to tell his majesty that he had an important communica- 

tion for him which he bore 
direct from God. No doubt 
. ^ ^ flattered by the pretence that 

gtaf ' God had regarded him 

with such consideration 
ffiST as to send a messen- 

JBtpk v ger to him, the king, 

as Ehud requested, 
.. . sent a B his servants 

j -- ° ut ^ ie p a ^ ace ’ ^ iat 

he might be alone 
* with the celestial 
messenger when 
the communication was de- 
livered. The auspicious 
opportunity was thus pre- 
sented, and Ehud quickly dispatched the king with a thrust of his dagger. 
The assassin then ran out, locking every door that he passed through, and 
soon sped away over the hills to alarm his people and prepare them for 
a desperate battle which he promised that God would help them to win. 


COMMAND 


THAT THEY PUT OUT OF CAMP EVERY EEPER. 
Numbers 5. 2. 


Moab was Subdued That Day Under the Hand of Israel. 


191 



When the King’s servants attempted to reach the royal apartments 
they found the doors locked, which they took to mean that his majesty 
had thus sought to prevent interruption while considering some weighty 
matter brought to his attention by the late messenger. After leaving him 
alone for several hours, and finding the doors yet locked, some alarm was 
felt, which grew apace, until, at the venture of offending the king, should 
there be no proper reason for their suspicions, the doors were unbarred 
and the body of the mur- 
dered ruler found bloodless 
on the throne. By this 
time, however, Ehud had 
made good his es- 
cape by fleeing to 


THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MADE THEM THE DENS WHICH ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS. — 

J udges 6. 2 . 

Mount Ephraim, where, by blowing his trumpet, he assembled a great 
body of Israelites. When the Moabites came out to fight them, the 
Lord gave Ehud the victory, so that he slew ten thousand Moabite 
soldiers, letting not one escape. 

After this event, but how long is not intimated in the Biblical 
account, Shamgar succeeded Ehud as judge of Israel. During his incum- 
bency a large body of Philistines went against the Israelites to recover 
one of the cities that had been taken from them, but Shamgar, who seems 
to have been not only a desperately brave man, but wonderfully strong as 
well, seized a large stick used in driving oxen, and, with this simple 


192 Certain Sons of Belial, Beset the House About. 

weapon, lay about him so . vigorously among the Philistines that he slew 
six hundred men and put the entire army to flight. 

It will be remembered that in an earlier chapter there are descriptions 
of the blessings and prophecies of Jacob upon his twelve sons, the youngest 
of whom, Benjamin, the great prophet predicted, u should 
Horrible abuse raven as a wolf.” We shall now see how truly this prophecy 
of hospitality. came to pass. The event which is about to be described 
occurred before Ehud, whom we have just noticed, was born, 
but the exact time is not given in the Bible, so that sequence is not abso- 
lutely necessary here. 

A member of the house of Levi, possibly a priest, had taken a woman 
to live with him, according to the custom of the time. This woman subse- 
quently became unfaithful, and she was sent back to her father’s house at 
* Bethlehem. After she had remained there four months the Levite longed 
for her, probably believing that he had condemned her too hastily, and, 
with a view of effecting a reconciliation, he went to Bethlehem, hoping to 
bring her home with him. The father-in-law gave him a hearty welcome, 
and together they feasted for three days. By a pressing invitation the 
Levite remained yet two days longer, when, having now spent five days 
with his father-in-law, he excused himself from further prolonging his 
visit, and started back to Mount Ephraim, where he resided, with his wife, 
who freely consented to return with him. The Levite thus journeyed 
with his wife, one servant and two asses, carrying such provisions and 
coverings as were needed on the way. When they came near to Jebus, 
the servant begged his master to ask for lodging there ; the Levite 
refused, and journeyed on to a town named Gibeah, which they entered 
at sunset. This town belonged to the Benjaminites, who had become 
famous for their beastiality and every manner of abomination ; besides, 
they were jealous of the other tribes. Thus, when they perceived the 
Levite and his family enter their city, they offered them no place to rest, 
and meditated much ill toward them. 

No door being opened to them, the Levite sat down in one of the 
open squares of the city, intending to spend the night there, but soon an 
old fellow countryman of Mount Ephraim, who was at the time living 


Seeing this Man has Come into Mine House , Do Not this Folly. 193 

in Gibeah, seeing the Levite thus exposed to the night, invited him to 
his house, tendering a generous hospitality. The Levite, and those with 
him, gladly accepted his kindness, but during the night a 
party of Beniaminites surrounded the old man’s house, and An mfamy 

by the 

demanded that the Levite be brought to them, having the Benjaminites. 
most infamous design upon his person. When the crowd 
became clamorous, the old man went out to them and sought to appease 
their desires by offering to them his own virgin daughter, and also the 


wife, or concubine, of the stranger, if they would but depart and do no 
violence to his guest. This offer they refused, when, to save himself, the 
Levite sent his woman among them, and, by an artifice, escaped himself. 
The poor woman was so seriously abused by the crowd, during the night, 
that she had barely strength enough left to stagger back to the door 
where she had found shelter, and there fell dead at the threshold. 

When the Levite opened the door in the morning he found the 
woman lying as she fell, and thinking she was asleep bade her arouse 



AS THY SWORD HATH MADE WOMEN CHILDLESS, SO SHALL THY 
MOTHER BE CHILDLESS AMONG WOMEN. — i Sam. 15. 33. 


13 


194 Divided Her , Together with Her Bones , zVz/tf Twelve Pieces. 


that he might renew his journey. When, however, he found she was 
dead, without making any complaint he set her body on one of his asses 
and hastened to Ephraim. Arriving at home, he 
resolved to seek revenge against the Benjaminites. 
Accordingly he cut up the woman into twelve 
pieces and sent a piece to each of the twelve 
tribes, together with an account of all that had 
befallen him at Gibeah. 

The report of the Levite aroused all the chil- 
dren of Israel, who vowed that no such deed had 
been seen since they had come out of Egypt, and 
they immediately determined to punish the crime 
as it deserved. In pursuance of this intent the 
whole congregation of Israel, from Dan to Beer- 
sheba, assembled together at Mizpeh, and presented 
themselves before Jehovah, whose aid they implored. 
This vast throng may be estimated by the fact 
that there were four hundred fighting men gath- 
ered at Mizpeh, besides all the families of Israel, 
save alone the tribe of Benjamin, which was about 
to be punished. 

When the great army had come together the 
Levite was brought out and ordered to repeat the 
particulars of the crime that had been perpetrated, 
and when he had done so the Israelites made a 
solemn vow of vengeance and an agreement that 
they would not separate until the great wrong 
was atoned. 

Provision was now made for an invasion of 
the country in which the Benjaminites dwelt, the 
first step being the appointment by lot of one man 
out of every ten, whose duty it was to secure 
food for the army. Messengers were next dispatched to Gibeah, ordering* 
the Benjaminites to deliver up the culprits who had done such a foul 



195 


The Men of Israel Went Out to Battle Against Benjamin. 



AND THERE CAME AN ANGEE OF THE EORD, 
AND SAT UNDER AN OAK.— Judges 6. xi. 

oracle was consulted, by which it was 
decided that Judah should lead the 
attack against the Benjaminites ; and 


The great 
battle of 
Shiloh. 


deed to the Levite’s woman, but they sent back a haughty defiance by 
the messengers, applauded the acts of their lewd brethren and made ready 
for battle. 

Those who remained within the walls of Gibeah were marshaled 
into a force of sword and spear bearers twenty-six thousand strong, in 
addition to which there were seven hundred left-handed 
sling-throwers, who could cast a stone, as it is asserted, to a 
hair’s breadth. This was a small army to meet the besiegers, 
who numbered four hundred thousand, and yet the result of the battle 
showed that the Benjaminites were much better fighters than the brethren 

^ sent against them. When the eleven 

tribes gathered together at Shiloh, 
the ark was set up, 
Phinehas, Aaron’s 
grandson, being high- 
priest. Here the 


196 


They are Smitten Down Before Us, as at First. 


thus, elated by the promise that God was with them, they pitched them- 
selves against Gibeah.. Instead of remaining within their defences, the 
Benjaminites, in nowise deterred by the immense force which opposed them, 
rushed out of their city and fell with such impetuosity against their enemies 
that the army -of Israel was put to rout with a loss of 22,000 men, almost 
equal to the entire fighting force of the Benjaminites. 

On the following day the routed army came together again near Shiloh 
and spent much time in weeping before God and asking if they should 
again go into battle against “ Benjamin, my brother.” To this inquiry 
the oracle renlied in the affirmative, but the second 



JAEIy WENT OUT TO MEET SISERA.— Judges 4. 18. 


battle was scarcely less unfortunate than the first, for again Israel was 
put to rout, with a loss of 18,000. 

For a third time the congregation assembled at Shiloh, where they 
kept a solemn fast and made many burnt-offerings, by which they hoped 
to win the favor of God, who, it was clear, had not been with them in 
the two battles. The oracle was now again consulted through Phinehas. 
who bade them go once more against the Benjaminites, but not as before, 
By the Lord’s direction the army of Israel was divided one portion of 
which was sent to lie in ambush behind the city, while the main body 
was ordered to make the attack in front, being the same stratagem which 
Joshua had employed so successfully at Ai. 



They Chased Them . . . Towards the Sun-rising. 


197 



According to orders given by God through the oracle, the main army 
of Israel went before Gibeah, but turned and fled as the Benjaminites 
came out,- who pursued them some distance. But as they God dreadfu.lv 
issued forth, Gibeah was left unprotected, so that the punishes the 
ambushing portion of the army entered and closed the gates, Ben i am,mtcs * 
by which the Benjaminites were left on the outside, opposed to the fury 
of the immense host. A great slaughter now took place, in which 
18,000 of the Benja- 
minites fell before the 
city, 5000 more were 
killed in the retreat, 
and 2000 more were 
slain while making a 
last rally at Gidom. 

The very few that 
escaped wandered 
about the country 
for several months, 
living in caves, 
while their various 
brethren went 
throughout the 
land burning cities 
and putting the in- 
habitants and cat- 
tle to the sword. 

This sack 
and pillage 
continued un- 
til the tribe 
of Benjamin 
was almost 
obliterated, 
and would, no 


HE BLEW a TRUMPET IN THE MOUNTAIN OF EPHRAIM.— Judges 3. 27. 


igS 


How Shall iv e do for Wives for Them that Remain ? 

doubt, have been entirely extinguished but for the fact that some pity 
was excited among a few leaders of the eleven tribes, who sought to cir- 
cumvent the vow that had been made at Mizpeh. 

It chanced that, on numbering the people, it was found that the 
Seizure of the men of Jabesh-gilead had not been with the other tribes in the 
maidens of battles, for which failure it was decreed that their city should 
be destroyed. Accordingly 12,000 men were sent against it, 
who not only captured the city but destroyed every man therein, together 
with all the women except four hundred virgins, who were given as 
wives to as many of the remaining Benjaminites. There were six hundred 
Benjaminites altogether who escaped the wrath of their brethren, and the 
two hundred who were not provided with wives from the virgins reserved 
from the sack of Jabesh-Gilead, afterwards secured wives by seizing some 
of the maidens of Shiloh who had come out to dance at a great annual 
feast. 

They afterward set about repairing their cities, and gradually increased 
until at the expiration of less than a century they had recovered nearly 
all their former greatness. It was from out this rehabilitated tribe that 
Ehud sprang, who became Israel’s second judge and deliverer of his 
people, as already described. 

After Ehud’s successful rebellion the Israelites enjoyed peace and 
liberty for a period of eighty years, when, having now become rich, they 
relapsed into such excesses as usually follow the acquisition of wealth by 
nations. 

In northern Palestine there reigned a great prince whose name was 
Jabin, called king of Hazor. He was chief of the Midianite nation, which 
Sisera the great h a d so f ar recovered from the defeats sustained at the hands 
Midianite of Joshua, in the length of time that had ensued, that it 
General. was now cons idered t he strongest in all Palestine. Not less 
the rich spoil which would follow a defeat of the Israelites, than the 
satisfaction of avenging the capture of their cities nearly two hundred 
years before, prompted the Midianites to invade the country now occupied 
by the Israelites. At the head of Jabin’s army was a mighty general 
named Sisera, who led an immense body of men, supplemented by nine 


Twenty Years He Mightily Oppressed the Children of Israel. 199 



hundred war chariots of iron. This great host swept down on the 
Hebrews and overcame them in every battle, and for a period of twenty 
years kept them so badly oppressed that their recuperative power even 
was almost destroyed, though they still managed to 

retain their government. 

At this time Israel was 
judged by a prophetess named 


THOU HAST GIVEN ME A SOUTH EAND ; GIVE ME ALSO 
SPRINGS OF WATER. — Judges i. 15. 


Deborah, who is reckoned to have been the nation’s fourth judge or ruler. 
This woman’s place of abode was under a palm tree, which received the 
designation, bestowed by her countrymen, of Deborah’s Palm. Here it was 
her custom to sit and receive the complaints of her people who came for 
judgment. When Israel sent up a cry to God for deliverance from 
the Midianites, He answered the petition through Deborah, who was 


200 


Praise Ye the Lord for the Avenging of Israel . 

commanded to send an inspired message to one Barak, a resident of Naphtali, 
whom she ordered to assemble ten thousand men to Tabor. Accom- 
panying this order was an assurance which she gave, that if he obeyed 
the command God would send Sisera to meet him at the river Kishon, 
where a great victory -would be won by the Israelites. 

Barak, while much impressed by Deborah’s message, was too faint- 
hearted to undertake such an enterprise alone, but believing in the 
Deborah leads foreknowledge of the woman, replied that he would go up to 
the host of battle against Sisera only on condition that she would accom- 
pany him. She reminded him that should the Israelites 
prevail, as God had promised, with herself leading the people, he would 
receive no honor for the victory. This appeal to his ambition had no 
effect upon Barak, and in the alternative presented, Deborah consented to 
lead Israel. The army of ten thousand was now gathered together by 
levies upon the tribes of Zebulun, Naphtali, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, 
and Benjamin, those tribes of the east and south not being engaged. 

When Sisera heard of the uprising, he assembled his great army at 
Harosheth, and marched thence to the plain of Jezreel, which is drained 
by the Kishon, while Barak came down with his ten thousand men from 
Tabor, to engage the Midianites in battle. It was now that the power of 
the Lord was made manifest in a wonderful manner: “A tremendous 
storm of sleet and hail gathered from the east, and burst over the plain, 
driving full in the face of the Midianites. The rain descended, the four 
rivulets of Megiddo were swollen to powerful streams, while the torrents 
of Kishon rose to a flood and the plain became a morass. The chariots 
and horses of Sisera’s army were now turned against him. He became 
entangled in the swamp so that the torrent of Kishon swept them away 
in its furious eddies, while in the confusion that followed the strength 
of the Midianites was trodden down by their horses, as the fear-stricken 
animals stamped and plunged in a desperate effort to extricate themselves 
from the quaking morass and -rising streams. Far and wide the vast 
army fled through the eastern branch of the plain of Endor. There, 
between Tabor and the little Hermon, a carnage took place long remem- 
bered, in which the corpses lay fattening the ground.” 


201 


The Stars in their Courses Fought Against Sisera. 



In the dreadful rout and devastation Sisera 
contrived to escape, by leaving his chariot and 
fleeing on foot to the tent of Heber, a Kenite. 

This man was an Arabian 
Sheikh, a descendant 
from Jethro, the father- 
in-law of Moses. He was 
dwelling at Kadesh, at 
the “Oak of the Wan- 
derers,” and on friendly 
terms with both the Is- 
raelites and Canaanites. 

Being the nearest 
place of shelter to 
the battle-ground, 

Sisera came to his 
tent, but Heber be- 
ing absent at the 
time, his wife Jael, 
bade him enter and 
gave him hospitable 
entertainment. 

Sisera was 
very tired when 
he entered the 
tent, and cast 
floor, and Jael 
After he had 
which Jael sup- 
milk out of her 

extremely fatigued, Sisera would not compose himself to deep sleep 
until he had exacted from Jael a solemn promise that in no event would 
she discover him to his enemies, who were now hot in the search. 
Believing himself secure in the promise given, Sisera fell into a deep 


THEN SANG DEBORAH AND BARAK THE 
SON OF ABINOAM. — Judges 5. 1. 

himself at once upon the 
covered him with her mantle, 
slept a little he called for drink, 
plied by giving him butter- 
choicest vessel. Though still 



202 


She Smote Off His Head. 


slumber. When Jael saw that her guest was soundly sleeping, she seized 
one of the tent pins and with a hammer drove it at a blow through 
jaei kills sisera Si sera ’ s temples, thus killing him upon the instant. It 
in her tent. was not long after that the pursuing Israelites came to her 

tent, when the valorous Jael showed Barak the deed she 
had done, and claimed the glory of Israel. This deed is made the 
subject of the Song of Deborah and Barak , which ranks amongst the 
finest efforts of Hebrew poetry. 


Nutu. 27. 23. 



HE EAID HIS HANDS UPON HIM AND GAVE HIM A CHARGE. — ] 


CHAPTER XI. 



The Lord is with thee , thou mighty man of valor. 

OR forty years peace reigned in Israel after the defeat 
P' of Sisera, or until 1250 B. C., but at the expiration 
of this time the Israelites returned again to their 
idolatrous and shameful practices, the miracles which 
God had wrought not sufficing to prove His protecting 
care for a greater time than the life of a single gen- 
eration. The god Baal was publicly set up and 
worshiped, and many other things done by this won- 
derfully perverse people in defiance of the Lord’s 
commands until His patience became again exhausted, 
and He resolved upon their punishment. This was accomplished by 
delivering them into the hands of the Midianites and Amalekites, who 
swarmed upon them “ as locusts for multitude.” By these, their old enemies, 
the Israelites were not only subjugated, but their means of living were so 
completely taken from them that they had to abandon their homes and flee 
into caves in the mountains, where they subsisted upon the things which 
chance threw in their way. This oppression lasted for seven years, during 
wffiich time a great number died of hardships and starvation. 

When God had considered the punishment of His people sufficient, His 
long-suffering was again exhibited in hearkening to the cries of distress 
which they sent up to Him. Among the Israelites was one who had not 
wholly departed from the worship of God, who was already esteemed as “a, 
man of great valor.” This soldier was Gideon, a son of Joash, of the tribe 
of Manasseh, a father himself, having sons also distinguished for bravery. 
It was he whom God chose to be a deliverer of Israel. 

(203) 


204 There Came an Angel of the Lord and Sat Under an Oak. 

One day, while Gideon was threshing out some corn that had been 
raised in a place where it escaped the notice of the Midianites, he saw 
an angel sitting under an oak that was a landmark, by whom he was 
saluted with the words, ‘‘Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.” 



Because He Feared His Father's Household and the Men of the City . 205 

Gideon bowed himself and then hastened and brought a kid for an offering. 
This he killed, and having cut it up brought it in a dish before the angel, 
whereupon the angel touched the offering and a fire sprang up which 
devoured it. By this acceptance of his offering Gideon saw that the 
Lord had some use for his services and asked what was 
desired of him. He was now commanded to go in his Gidcon !s ca,lcd 

. by God in a 

might and save Israel, for God would help him to prevail over dream, 
the Midianites. Gideon pleaded his poverty, and the weak- 
ness of his people, but the Lord again assured him of His help, 
and then vanished. Gideon now built an altar at the spot where the 
sacred presence had appeared, which he called Jehovah-shalom, meaning 
Jehovah is our peace . 

At night God again appeared to Gideon, in a dream, and commanded 
him to take his father’s second bullock, of seven years old, and to over- 
throw the altar and idol of Baal, the fragments of which the Lord ordered 
him to use in making a fire for burning the bullock as a sacrifice. When 
he arose in the morning Gideon told ten of his servants what had been 
commanded of him, and by the aid of these on the following night, 
secretly, for fear of his father’s household and of the men in the city, he 
carried out the Divine order. When morning again appeared, 
his deed was discovered, and a cry was at once set up, by G,deon s secrct 
the worshipers of Baal, for Gideon’s life. Joash, however, 
influenced no doubt by God, defended his son and said, “ Let Baal 
plead his own cause,” and this argument convinced the citizens, who 
thereupon bestowed upon Gideon the new name of Jerub-baal, which 
implies, Let Baal plead. 

When the act of Gideon, and his people’s sanction thereof, became 
known to the Midianites and Amalekites, they prepared at once for war, 
and mustering their forces went into camp at Jezreel, near the spot where 
Sisera had been overthrown. Gideon now also prepared for battle by 
calling together the tribes of Manasseh, Zebulun and Naphtali, who pitched 
their tents overlooking the Midian hosts in the plain of Esdraelon. 

In the sight of such an immense army as opposed him, Gideon’s 
faith was somewhat weakened, for he called upon the Lord to give him 


206 


Behold , I will put a Fleece of Wool in the Floor. 


The miracle of 
the fleece. 


another sign that he should lead Israel to victory. Thus Gideon 
gathered a fleece of wool, and laying it upon the ground, told God that 
if the dews of night should fall heavy and the fleece yet remain dry 
in the morning, he would consider it a sign that he had 
been chosen to win the battle. In the morning when 
Gideon looked at the fleece he found it dry, while all around the 
ground was wet with dew. Though he promised that this sign should 
convince him, he was not yet satisfied, and told God that he wanted one 
more evidence. He would lay the fleece upon the ground another night, 
and in the morning if it were wet, while all the ground about remained 
dry, then he should accept it as a token of what God had promised. 
This second sign was also given, for when Gideon went out and picked up 
the fleece, he found it so wet that he wrung much water out of it, while 
all about the ground was as dry as at mid-day. He was now satisfied that 
he would win the victory, and marched out at the head of thirty-two thou- 
sand men to engage the enemy, whose numbers were many times greater. 

Before reaching the plain, God bade Gideon to send back a portion of 
his army, for, said Jehovah, “ The people that are with thee are too many 
for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves 
against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” The Lord further 
told Gideon to say to all those of his army who were afraid to go into 
battle, to return to their homes. The great fear which possessed Israel 
is evidenced by the fact that twenty-two thousand acknowledged their 
cowardice by leaving and going back to their settlements. There now 
remained ten thousand, the same number that engaged Sisera, 
^is^ocTs helip er ^ ut God told Gideon that his army was still too large, as 
He was going to show the Israelites another miracle by which 
they would know He was their leader. Then, as the Lord directed, Gideon 
brought his army to a small stream to drink, and observed that some 
quenched their thirst by kneeling down and dipping up the water with 
their hands, while others drank while putting their mouths to the water 
after the manner of brutes. Of the former there were only three hun- 
dred, and these alone God commanded Gideon to take with him into 
battle, while all the others should be sent away. 


The Midianites . . . Lay Along the Valley like Grashoppers. 207 

The following night a spy, who had been sent into the Midian camp, 
came to Gideon and told him that he had overheard one of the Midian- 
ites relating to his comrade a dream, wherein was foretold how Israel 



BLOW UP THE TRUMPET IN THE 
NEW MOON. — Psalms 81. 3. 

should overcome and dis- 
poil the Midian army, 
which seems to have 
greatly encouraged the 
little band of three hundred. 

Gideon was no less a strategist than a man of valor, for he disposed 
his small army in a manner well calculated to inspire the enemy with 
terror. Dividing into three bands, he ordered that every man be 
provided with a trumpet, a torch and a large-mouthed pitcher, the two 


208 


The Lord Set Every Man's Sword Against His Fellow. 


latter to be used to make a dark lantern, instructing them at the 
same time to make the assault at night and to blow their trumpets at a 
given signal, then to break their pitchers that covered the lights, and 
rush on, shouting, “ The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” 

When the middle watch was set for the night, the little army took 
up positions on three sides of the Midian camp, and at the word rushed 
The Midianites ^own u P on th e enemy, first in darkness, blowing their trumpets 
terrified by and shouting their battle-cry. Then breaking their pitchers 
Gideon s band. ^ ^ s ig na ^ they suddenly appeared as if clothed in flames, 
brandishing their torches and still blowing the trumpets. The terror 
which this singular attack produced was equaled only by the miracles 
God had done. The swords of the Midianites were turned upon themselves 
as they fled with precipitation down the pass leading to the Jordan. 

Those of Gideon’s army that had been sent back Were now recalled, 
and they pursued after the retreating Canaanites and engaged them in two 
other battles, in both of which great numbers of Midianites and Amale- 
kites were slaughtered, making the victory the most important one gained 
since the time of Joshua. 

After their deliverance the Israelites called upon Gideon to serve them as 
king, an honor which they desired to bestow in recognition of his great 
services, but he replied to their entreaties, “I will not rule over you, neither 
shall my son rule over you ; Jehovah shall rule over youT Though he 
resisted this proffer of exaltation, remembering and observing the law of 
Moses, yet Gideon was not entirely above temptation, and fell into an 
iniquity by reason of his vanity. Having, by Divine permission, once 
Gideon raised an altar and made an acceptable offering thereon, 
practices an he was now induced by his own pride to make another 
idolatry. 0 f j ewe ] s an d i^oo shekels of gold which he had taken from 
the Midianites. This altar was not consecrated to God, but was raised as 
an oracle, which became a kind of idolatry, for not alone the people, but 
he also consulted it regularly. 

The species of idolatry practiced by Gideon was hardly his worst sin, 
for we are told that he had seventy-one sons, many of whom must have 
been unlawfully begotten, one of whom, Abimelech, whose mother was a 


Thei) Heai is Inclined to Follow Abinielech. 


209 



concubine, afterward brought disgrace and great trouble on the Israelites. 
Gideon was the fifth judge of his people, and his rule was distinguished 
y justice and the peace of Israel for forty years. He died at a good old 
age and was buried in his native city of 
Ophrah. Soon after Gideon’s death, the Israel- 
ites, true to their perverse and iniquitous 
dispositions, abandoned Jehovah and 
made Baal-berith 
their national 


AB1MEEECH ASSUMES THE CROWN. 


god, which led them into all manner of evil. Though Gideon had 

refused the crown for, himself and sons, Abimelech became ambitious to 

rule Israel, and to carry his purposes into effect he went among his 

mother’s people, the Shechemites, and urged them to crown him. The 
14 


2io He Went to His Father's House . . . and Slew His Brethren 


specious argument he advanced in support of his claims was that it were 
better to be ruled by one man than by seventy, and that being himself 
a Shechemite his people had better accept him than to allow his brothers 
Abimeiech — who belonged to another city— to rule over them. So 

murders his well did he ply this reasoning that his relatives entered 
brothers. j nt) 0 a conspiracy to make him king, and provided him 

with a band of desperate followers, for which purpose money was taken 
from the treasury of Baal-berith. 

Abimeiech, being now placed at the head of an army, marched to 
his father’s house and seized his sixty-nine brothers, and murdered them 
on the stone altar he had reared. One of his brothers, named Jotham, 
not being at home when the fratricide was perpetrated, escaped his 
brother’s vengeance, and when he heard what Abimeiech had done he 
went to Mount Gerizim and in an oration to the people recounted the 
infamy and reproach that had been brought on Israel. He told them 
how his father had refused the crown for himself and sons, and of the 
special unworthiness of Abimeiech, not only because the Mosaic law 
forbade the recognition of any other king than Jehovah, but also because 
Abimeiech was the son of a maid-servant, and therefore not entitled to 
any inheritance. 

What effect Jotham’s harangue had upon the people we are not told, 
but he delivered a curse upon his unnatural brother, and also upon the 
Shechemites, which was not long afterward fulfilled. 

Three years after Abimeiech had ascended the throne, God sent a 
rebellious spirit among the men of Shechem to avenge the murder of 
Gideon’s sons. They not only revolted, but conspired to 
Avenging the ta k e his life and lay in wait for him in all the ways it 

murder of # J 

Gideon’s sons. was usual for him to take, but he knew their purpose and 
kept himself hidden from them. At length this rebellious 
spirit had so increased that the rebels found a leader in Gaal, the son 
of Ebed, who boasted that he would unseat the king. Abimeiech, hearing 
of these threats, managed to collect an army with which he marched to 
Shechem, and when Gaal and his party came out to engage him the 
king routed the rebels with great loss. 


21 1 


His Young Man Thrust Him Through , and He Died. 



The victory which Abimelech gained over Gaal did not increase his 
popularity, for the Amorites now flew to arms to defend the city of 
Shechem. Their defence of the place did not avail, however, for it was 
captured and all the inhabitants, except a thousand men and women who 
had taken refuge in the tower sacred to Baal-berith, were 
put to the sword. A worse fate was reserved 
for those in the tower. Abimelech, 
himself setting the example, ordered 
his army to collect wood from 
the neighboring forest which 
was piled high about 
the sacred edifice 
and then set on fire. 

Thus was destroyed 
the tower, together 
with all who had 
taken refuge therein. : 

A great uprising 
of the people in ad- / 
j acent cities followed 
the victories of Ab- 
imelech, who fell into 
public odium, though 
his army still re- god shall . . . root the® out of the land of the living. 
mained true to him. 

After sacking Shechem, he marched against Thebez, which he besieged 
and captured after a brief resistance by its people. There was also a 
tower in this place, to which a large number of the people fled as a last 
resort. Abimelech, who must have been a recklessly brave 
man, instead of intrusting to his soldiers the most dangerous flb,mc,ech k,llcd 

by a woman. 

work of approaching and setting fire to the tower, under- 
took the duty himself, but as he was in the act of applying a burning 
brand, a woman threw down a piece of millstone upon his head, which 
broke his skull. In the last agonies of death he bade his attendant 


212 Jephthah , the Gileadite, was a Mighty Man of Valor. 

dispatch him with his sword, deeming it ignoble to die by the hand of a 
woman. Abimelech is regarded as having been the sixth judge of Israel, 
though the title does not properly belong to him. He was evidently 
king of a faction, perhaps of a single city, but was never recognized as 
a ruler by a majority. 

After Abimelech, the Israelites were at comparative peace for a period 
of more than one hundred years, though, during this period they had 
groveled in all manner of vices, returning to the worship of Baalim, 
Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, 
The Israelites an( ^ gods of the Philistines. God’s anger was slow to 

punished. ... . - 

show itself this time, but it came at length. Two nations 
were sent at the same time against Israel, one on the east and the 
other on the west, and the Israelites were beaten at every point. 
Not only were those east of the Jordan brought under subjection 
by the Philistines, but also the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and 
Ephraim, on the west. 

For eighteen years the stiff-necked Israelites were humbled and 
oppressed, as they richly deserved to be. When at length they cried to 
God, the prophets told them to appeal to their idols, so that, for some 
time, the Lord refused to aid them. But Israel thoroughly repented and 
begged God to deliver them only this once. So they broke their idols 
and began to worship the true God again, by which His aid was once 
more secured. 

The Israelites now gathered their forces to Mizpeh, while the 
Ammonites, who now opposed them, assembled at Gilead. A decisive 
The character battle was to be fought, but Israel had no leader, and in 
of jephthah. their anxiety to secure a captain, they promised to make 
the man who would lead them against their enemies the head over all 
the people of Gilead. In the Israelitish camp was a man who had already 
proved his valor in battles among neighboring tribes, and toward him all 
turned their eyes. His name was Jephthah, who was the son of Gilead 
by a woman of very bad character. When his father died, the poor lad 
was thrust out by his legitimate brothers, and having nowhere to go he 
had wandered to the land of Tob. Here he grew up among vicious 


213 


Come and be Our Captain , that We May Fight. 


associates, and became finally the leader of a band of robbers, whose levies 
of booty, however, were made entirely from, the Ammonites. 

Jephthah was so highly regarded for his power as a warrior among 
the Israelites that they besought him to accept the leadership, which he 
consented to do only on condition that should he deliver Israel he 

would be made chief over all Gilead. This promise was not 



After the confirmation of the Israelites’ promise Jephthah took com- 
mand of the army, and sent messengers to the Ammonites to ask of 
their king why he had made war on Israel. To this message a reply 
was returned which was scarcely less than a history of the Jewish 




214 The Spirit of the Lord Came Upon Jephthah . 

conquests since the day Moses approached Palestine. The king reminded 
Jephthah that his people had been driven from their land along the 
Jordan by the Israelites, and demanded its restoration, for which he had 


now come to fight. Jephthah sent his 
messengers again to tell the Ammonites that what Israel possessed God 
had given them, and as a taunt to their idolatry he submitted that they 
might take all their god Chemoth would give them, but Israel would 


GIVE, I PRAY YOU, LOAVES OF BREAD . . . FOR 

THEY BE FAINT.— judges 8. 5. 


And Jephthah Vowed a Vow unto the Lord. 


215 


retain their own possessions ; and he called upon Jehovah to be a 
judge between them. 

Foreseeing the result of his second message, which was equivalent 
to a challenge, Jephthah mustered all the Israelites that were in Gilead 
and Manasseh, and bringing them to the rendezvous at jephthah’s 

Mizpeh, prepared to give battle to his enemies. Before setting rash vow - 
out, however, he made a rash vow, whereby he promised if God would 
give him the victory, that upon his return home he would devote to 
Jehovah, as a burnt offering, whatsoever came forth from his door to 
meet him. The object of such a vow W8* 

is difficult to discover, since it seems 
to contemplate the sacrifice of some 
member of his family, for what else 
would be most likely to 
come out of his house 
to meet him? Yet the 
sequel proves that the 
fulfilment of his promise 
brought upon him the greatest 
sorrow. 

Having recorded his vow, 

Jephthah marched against the 
children of Ammon, whom he 
defeated not only in the 
first battle, but pursued 
them until he had cap- 
tured twenty of their 
cities, and so broke their 
power that Israel possessed 
their lands in peace until the time of the reign of Saul. 

Having won the victory and been made judge of all Gilead, Jeph- 
thah returned to his city, Mizpeh, and was met by his beautiful daughter, 
who had just issued forth from his house to greet him. She had heard 
of her father’s renown, and in the pride of her heart, desiring to attest 



SEE, THERE COME PEOPEE.— Judges 9. 37. 


216 


When He Saw Her He Rent His Clothes . 


her love and gladness, she came forward dancing, and playing upon 
timbrels, to signalize his triumph and to receive his caresses. She was 
his only child, and the Biblical account leads us to believe that he lavished 
upon her all the fondness a doting father is capable of bestowing ; what, 
therefore, must have been his feelings in the remembrance 
jephthah’s sor- Q f ras | 1 vow w hich he had made to Jehovah? In the 

rows at meeting . 

his daughter, bitter anguish of his heart he said to his daughter, Alas ! 

thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them 
that trouble me ; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord 
and I cannot go back.” She appears to have fully comprehended 
the awful import of his words, for with that wonderful resignation 
which sustains the trusting child and the devoted followers of 
God, she made reply, “ My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto 
the Lord, do to me according to that which proceeded out of thy mouth ; 
forasmuch as the Lord has taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, 
even of the children of Ammon.” And she said unto her father, u Let 
this thing be done for me ; let me alone two months, that I may go up 
and down upon the mountains, and bewail my girlhood, I and my 
fellows.” And he said, “ Go.” 

There are few incidents recorded in the Bible so pathetic as this, 
nor are there any which exhibit such peaceful resignation to the will of 
a father, or of God. It is much to be regretted that the name of this 
noble character is not given, for it deserves perpetuation with that of 
Miriam, Ruth and Mary. 

When the devoted daughter had spent two months with her compan- 
ions on the mountains, she returned to her father and told him to execute 
The sacrifice promise which he had made to Jehovah. We would 

of jepthah's expect Jephthah to call upon God to set aside the vow, and 
daughter. to re ii eve hi m Q f the monstrous crime of murdering his 
daughter; or that God would stay his hand at the last moment, as He 
did that of Abraham when the knife was uplifted to take the life of his 
son Isaac ; but nothing occurred to prevent the fulfilment of the promise, 
for Jephthah “did with her according to the vow which he had vowed.” 
The sacrifice of the loving, dutiful girl having been accomplished, the 



(2I7> 


THE DAUGHTERS OE ISRAEL WENT YEARLY TO LAMENT.— judges n. 40. 


218 Then Jephthah Gathered Together All the Men of Gilead . 

lamentable circumstance was made memorable by the establishing of a 
custom whereby on every anniversary of the execution the daughters of 
Israel went out to some designated spot, and there remained for four days 
in mourning for Jephthah ’s only daughter. 

Although Jephthah had gained a decisive victory, and had been 
exalted for his prowess, he was not long permitted to enjoy the fruits of 
The rebellion his position in peace. The Ephraimites, who were not called 
against jephthah to engage against the Ammonites, became jealous, and 
punished. calling the men of Gilead outcasts of the house of Joseph, 
threatened to burn Jephthah’s house over his head. But Jephthah sent his 
army against them and put them to rout after a sharp skirmish, and the 
men of Gilead took possession of the fords of the Jordan over which the 
Ephraimites had to pass. Here, in order to determine whether those who 
attempted to cross were Gileadites or Ephraimites, the holders of the fords 
provided a singular test. Every one who demanded a passage westward 
was asked, “ Are you an Ephraimite ? ” If the reply was “ No,” he was 
required to pronounce the word Shibboleth (meaning a stream or flood ), but 
if he should say “ Sibboleth,” which their singular dialect was certain to 
make the Ephraimites do, then he was immediately put to death. The 
loss to the Ephraimites in their uprising against Jephthah was terrible, 
amounting to forty-two thousand men. Jephthah ruled Israel over six years, 
when he died and was buried in Mount Gilead. 

Of the three judges who came after Jephthah there is little said in the 
Bible. Their rule extended over a period of twenty-five years, during 
which time there was comparative peace in Israel, and neither judge did 
anything to distinguish himself. 


CHAPTER XII. 

‘ And the woman . . . called his name Samson, . . . and the Lord blessed him." 



VERY important fact which should be kept constantly 
in mind by every reader of the Bible is that the Scrip- 
tural narrative is without sequence ; nor is the 
chronological arrangement consecutive. This is due 
partly to the fragmentary character of much of the 
record, and to the further fact that discovery of the 
Books of the Bible was made, not all at one time, 
but at long intervals between, which has necessitated 
many changes, but always with clearer understanding. But 
a greater liability to confusion lies in the general statement 
which so frequently occurs in the Bible as follows: u And the 
children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord 
delivered them into the hands of their enemies.” This must not be 
understood as implying that all the twelve tribes of Israel were in sin and 
became subjugated at the same time. By the appointment of Joshua, all 
the land of Canaan, of Palestine, was given to the Israelites, so that the 
tribes became scattered all over the country. Therefore, the statement 
just quoted usually has reference to only two or three of the tribes, as we 
have seen that during the time of Gideon and Jephthah and other judges, 
only a few of the tribes were involved in wars with the Midianites, Amale- 
kites and Ammonites, the other tribes occupying a district too remote from 
the scene of conflict to participate. With these facts kept well in mind 
there will be no obscurity in the manner in which the Bible introduces 
the subjects of Israel’s triumphs and defeats. 

In the southern part of Palestine some important events occurred a 
few years previous to the exploits of Jephthah, chief of which was the 
institution of idolatry again among the Israelites and their punishment 
by the Philistines. The story of their subjugation and oppressions is so 

(219) 


2 20 


The Angel of the Lord Appeared to the Woman. 



similar to those several times before related that it is sufficient now to observe 
that the Philistines were their masters for a period of forty years. By this 
fact we judge that the sins of the Israelites must have been very great, for 
the term of their punishment was equal to the life of a generation, by 
which we infer that God suffered nearly all those who had transgressed 

His laws to die, and provided a 
deliverer only for their children. 

The deliverer whom the Lord 
chose to destroy the mastership 

I ' 


BEHOLD, HIS DAUGHTER CAME OUT TO MEET HIM, 
. . . AND SHE WAS HIS ONLY CHILD. — Judges n. 34. 


which the Philistines exercised over the Israelites was a person of lowly 
birth, but of uncommon power such as no man ever before or since 
An angel possessed. Concerning his nativity, we are told that a certain 
appears to man, whose name was Manoah, and who belonged to the 
Manoah. tribe Danites, had a wife that had never borne him any 

children, which was a disgrace in Israel, for the greatest glory of Jewish 
women was to bear children to their husbands. This poor woman, no 


221 


His Countenance was Like the Countenance of an Angel. 


doubt, suffered from many taunts hurled at her by her neighbors, and it was 
possibly for this reason that God chose to comfort her. The Lord 
appeared to her one day and promised that she should soon bear a son 
who would, from his birth, begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of 
the Philistines ; at the same time cautioning her against eating any 
unclean thing or the drinking of any wine or strong drink. The 


same abstinence was demanded 
also never suffer his hair to 
When the Lord had spoken 
appeared, while she hastened to 
husband. Manoah was greatly 
had been made, for he had long 
was very anxious to see the 
appeared to his wife, and prayed 
Himself to him. Jehovah an- 



of the child, who should 
be shorn. 

to Manoah’s wife He dis- 
tell the glad news to her 
pleased at the promise that 
wished for a son, but he 
divine messenger that had 
that God would manifest 
swered Manoah’s prayer by 



THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ASCENDED IN THE FLAME.— Judges 13. 20. 

appearing to him in human form, but the good man detected the 
divine spirit that dwelt in the presence before him and urged the 


222 



The Lord Began to Move Him at Times in the Camp of Dan. 

angel to accept his hospitality. The messenger thereupon ordered 
Manoah to make a burnt-offering to God, which he did by killing 
a kid and making a sacrifice of it. As the flames came up from the 
altar about the offering, the angel rose upward and disappeared before 
Manoah’s sight. 


AND HE RENT HIM AS HE WOOED HAVE RENT A KID. — Judges 14. 6. 

In due time a child was born, as the Lord had promised, to whom 
Manoah gave the name of Samson, meaning great joy, according to some 
Hebrew scholars, but Josephus declares the word to mean strong . 

When Samson had grown to man’s estate some of the tribes of 
Israelites were serving under Philistine taskmasters, and 
Samson^ raised their spirits were broken, scarcely hoping for a deliverer, 
Israel. and so corrupted by natural follies and their degraded con- 
dition, that they had quite forgotten Jehovah. 

The first exhibition of the power which God had given to Samson 
occurred in the camp of Danites, which was in the central highlands, but 



Behold a Young Lion Roared Against Him. 


223 


what this manifestation was we are not told. Not long afterward he 
became conscious of his marvelous strength, and, stung to madness by 
the reproaches heaped upon his people, he began to seek a quarrel with 
the Philistines. With this end in view he accompanied his parents to a 
city called Timnath, where the Philistines were holding a great festival. 
Instead, however, of engaging in a fight, he fell so deeply in love with a 
Philistine maid, whom he met there, that he besought his parents to pro- 
cure her for his wife. This request they for a long time refused, because 
she was not a Hebrew, but his persuasion finally prevailed and he married 
her. 

On one occasion, while Samson was returning from a visit to his par- 
ents to his wife in Timnath, he was attacked by a great lion which meant 
to devour him ; but although Samson had no weapon, he 
seized the mighty beast, and with the powerful grip of , ion . s carcass, 
his arm strangled it ; he then threw the carcass into a piece 
of woods which bordered the highway. 

It was not a great while after Samson’s fight with the lion that he 
was again passing along the same road, when he spied the beast’s carcass 
and perceived that a swarm of bees had made of it a hive, wherein Sam- 
son found a quantity of honey, some of which he ate and took also pieces 
to his wife. 

The astonishing strength of this wonderful man gave great concern 
to the Philistines, who were in constant dread of his enmity; so, under 
pretense of doing him honors appropriate to his renown, they gave him 
thirty stout youths for servants, whose real duty, however, was to act as 
a guard over him. Shortly after his marriage, at a festival given by him, 
these thirty youths were making merry and disporting themselves in many 
ways, when Samson said to them : “ Come, if I propose you 

a riddle, and you can expound it in these seven days, I will Samson 

deceived by his 

give you everyone a linen shirt and a garment, as the reward wjfc 

of your wisdom.” He then propounded the following : “ Out 

of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” 

The youths were extremely anxious to solve this riddle, but not being 
able to discover the answer themselves, they went to his wife and tried to 


224 


I Will Now Put Forth a Riddle Unto You-. 



induce her to gain the secret from her husband. For some time she 
refused, but when the thirty threatened to burn her if she did not dc their 
bidding, she prevailed on Samson to tell her the answer, and gave the 

reply to the thirty. At 
the end of seven days, 
when they had come 
into the presence of Sam- 
son, they said to him : 
u What is sweeter than 
honey ? and what is stronger 
than a lion ? ” 

Samson knew immedi- 
ately that his wife 
had betrayed his 
secret, and told the 
young men as much; 
nevertheless, 
he did not try 
to evade his 
promise, for im- 
mediately he 
went to the city of Askelon, 
where he killed thirty Phil- 
istines, whom he divested 
of clothing . and sent it 
to the thirty as their re- 
ward. 

His wife’s betrayal in- 
censed Samson so greatly 
that he left Timnath and 
returned to his father’s 
house; but very soon the 
old love for his wife revived, 

HE BOWED HIMSELF WITH ALL HIS MIGHT. —Judges 16. 30. ailC ^ ^ Wen ^ back tO claim 


Samson Went and Caught Three Hundred Foxes . 


225 



her. Upon arriving 1 at Timnath, his father-in-law met him with the cruel 
information that his wife had been given in marriage to one of his thirty 
groomsmen during his absence, but offered to make amends for the wrong 
done him by giving him a 
younger and more beautiful 
daughter for wife 
instead. 

Samson re- 
jected his 
father-in-law’s 
proposal, and 
resolving up- 
on revenge directed 
against all Philis- 
tines, he captured 
three hundred 
jackals, which he 
tied together in 
pairs by the 
tails; between 
each pair he 
fastened a 
burning 
brand, and 
then turned 
the whole 
troop loose in 
the fields of 
the Philistines among 

the standing corn, AT MIDNIGHT> AND TO ok the doors of the gate 

which was j ust ready OF THF CITY -— J^ges 16. 3 . 

for harvesting. By this means a great fire was spread that burned up not 
only all the corn, but vineyards and olive trees as well. This wanton act of 
Samson’s was avenged upon his former wife and her relations, whom the 


15 


226 



When the Philistines discovered the place of Samson’s retreat, they 
went in a large army into Judah and demanded of the Judahites that they 
surrender the strong man to them. This demand alarmed the Judahites, 
for they were not equal in fighting strength to the Philistines, and to avoid 
a conflict they went to Samson and begged that he would suffer himself 
to be bound and delivered to the Philistines, else their country would be 


He Smote Them Hip and Thigh with a Great Slaughter . 

Philistines seized and promptly burned. This cruelty further inflamed Sam- 
son, who now went against his enemies, and, by the force of his marvelous 
might, slew many hundred of them in the plains. Having done this, he took 
refuge on the top of a large rock at Btam, in the territory of Judah. 


BUT THE PHILISTINES TOOK HIM .... AND BROUGHT HIM DOWN TO GAZA. — Judges 16. 21. 


227 


The Spirit of the Lord Came Mightily Upon Him. 

ravaged for no sin which they had committed. Though Samson was con- 
scious of his power, he permitted himself to be bound with two strong cords, 
first exacting a promise from the Judahites that they would not side with 
the Philistines. He was now led captive to the Philistine camp, 
and as they saw him approaching, apparently in a helpless the 

condition, with shouts of joy they came out to take him. jaw-bone of 
The spirit of God now came upon Samson, who broke his 
bonds, and with the jaw-bone of an ass, which he found lying at his feet, 
he sprang upon the Philistines, and thrashing on every side, he killed 
several thousand and put the rest to flight. 

For his success in beating so many of his enemies, Samson refused 
to give God the credit, becoming so vain as to believe that he had done 
it by his own unaided exertion. But God now inflicted him with a great 
thirst, until, in his agony, Samson prayed for pardon, perceiving that 
nothing could avail him save God’s help. Then the Lord caused a spring 
to burst out of a rock, at which Samson refreshed himself and called the 
place Jaw-bone, which name it retained in the time of Josephus. 

After the slaughter at Jaw-bone, Samson went to the city of Gaza, 
where he put up at a certain inn. The Philistines, learning of his pres- 
ence there, formed a plan to capture him, which, however, 

Samson carries 

miscarried, as had all their former efforts. They surrounded off the gates of 
the city and barred all the great iron gates, besides placing a city, 
men to guard every avenue, but in the night Samson, having been apprised 
of their plans, got up from his lodging and ran with such force against 
the gates that they were thrown down, with the post and beams that sup- 
ported them ; to show his strength to his enemies he then picked up the 
gates and carried them upon his shoulders to a neighboring mountain near 
Hebron. This wonderful act struck such terror into the Philistines that 
they did not attempt to dispute his way, looking only to their own safety. 
The many favors which Jehovah showed him should have the secret of 
inclined Samson’s heart to proper reverence and obedience, his strength 
but instead, he neglected to exercise his power always for d ' scovcrcd - 
the glory of God or good of his people. He at length fell into evil 
ways, broke even the laws of his own country, and adopted many of the 


228 Tell me , I Pray eth, Wherein Thy Great Strength Lieth. 

abominable customs of the Philistines, notwithstanding they had always 
been his enemies. 

It was no doubt sinful in Samson in taking his first wife from 
among the Philistines, as circumstances proved the folly of the act ; 
but experience failed to make him any wiser, for he fell in love with 
another Philistine woman, one, too, of the lowest character, who at 
length compassed his downfall. Her name was Delilah, and as the Bible 
represents her as having been a most beautiful woman, it is not improb- 
able that, despite her loose morals, she may have occupied a high social 
position among her people. Her qualities of beauty and accomplishments 
exercised so potent an influence upon Samson that he became plastic in 
her hands, moving him as she chose. The Philistines, observing this, 
bribed Delilah to obtain from him the secret of his strength and betray 
it to them. She seems to have cared very little for her Herculean lover, 
for she entered heartily into the scheme proposed. When, therefore, a 
suitable occasion was presented, she urged Samson to tell her in what 
charm lay his wonderful strength. In order to delude her, 
he replied that if he were bound with seven withes of a 

an agent of the r 

Philistines. certain green vine his strength would be as that of other 
men. She hastened to tell the Philistines, who stationed 
a number of soldiers in ambush, and there waited until Delilah 
plied him with strong drink till he fell asleep. The soldiers then 

bound him as he had prescribed. She now awakened him, as if in great 
alarm, by shouting in his ear that the people were upon him. He 
roused up in a maudlin condition and broke the withes as if they had 
been threads. 

When her first artifice failed Delilah reproached Samson for his want 
of confidence, and for having deluded her, and then renewed her persua- 
sions until he told her that if she would bind him with new cords his 
strength would depart. Again she tried to betray him to the Philistines, 
but with no better success than before. Pretending now to be sorely 
hurt by his deception, and withal charging him with entertaining no 
love for her, she at length obtained his confidence, and he told her truly 
that God had taken care of him, and “ thence it is that I suffer my hair 


229 



The Philistines Took Him and Put Out His Eyes . 

to grow, God hav- 
ing charged me 
never to poll my 
head, and thence 
my strength is ac- 
cording to the increase and continuance of my hair.” He further 
said that if she would braid his hair and then cut it off his 
strength would be no greater than that of any other man. 
Believing that he spoke the truth, she lulled him to sleep with 
his head resting in her lap, and then braiding his hair clipped it 
from his head. When she now awakened him the soldiers rushed 
in and easily bound him, for he had lost his strength, and when 
taken to the place of judgment his eyes were put out, and he was 
afterward led about the streets an object of public derision. 

But the Philistines continued their cruel exhibition too long, 
for Samson’s hair grew out again, and with its increase all the 
former strength returned. When his power had become 
as great as before there was a great public festival 
given, which was attended by the most eminent 
Philistines in the whole country. In their 
feasting and reveling they sent for Samson, 
in order to make sport of his shorn 
strength and helpless condition. The 
place in which this festival was given 
was called the Temple of Dagon, and one 
of the rooms of the temple, in which the 
revels were being held, was supported by 
two immense pillars extending from the 
foundation to the roof, and were its chief 
supports, as Samson had perceived before 
he had been deprived of his sight. 

After the Philistines had amused them- 
selves for some time with Samson, whose 
shame and anger were now fairly consum- 





230 


Suffer Me That I May Feel the Pillars - 



ing him, he requested 
the boy who had been 
leading him about to 
conduct him to a seat 
beside the pillars, as he 
was very tired and desired to rest awhile. 

Entreat Me. not ro 

Ieeave As soon as he was brought to touch the pillars he 

put his arms out against them with such power that 
they were broken asunder and the entire building was 
overthrown, crashing down and burying in one common 
ruin three thousand men that were in the temple, and with 
them perished Samson also. 

Eli, who had been acting as high-priest, upon the death 
of Samson became judge of Israel, whose rule was not dis- 
tinguished for any great wisdom, and who is chiefly remem- 
bered in Jewish history by reason of the iniquity and terrible 
fate of his two sons. But during Eli’s administration a 
famine prevailed throughout the land, which bore with such 
severity upon the people that a large number were forced to 
emigrate to save themselves from starvation. Among those 
who thus changed their abode was a man named Elimelech^ 
who lived in Bethlehem with his wife Naomi and his two 
sons, Chilion and Mahlon. He went to the land of Moab 
where his affairs were' all prosperous, and after a little while 
he married his sons to two Moabitish maidens, named Orpah 
and Ruth. 

Elimelech continued to prosper in the land of Moab for 
a period of ten years, when he fell sick • and died, leaving 
the care of his estate to his two sons. But it was only a 
little while after his death before the two sons also died, 
which double misfortune so deeply distressed Naomi that she 

decided to return to 
Bethlehem, where many 
of her friends still 





$ 



Then She Kissed Them , and They Lifted Up Their Voice and Wept. 231 



lived, especially as the famine had now dis- 
appeared and the harvests there were again 
abundant. 

Though Elimelech had greatly prospered 
while in the land of Moab, he must have left 
behind him only a small estate, for when 
Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem her 
possessions were so small that it was with 
much difficulty she managed to subsist. 

When she was on the point of starting, both 
Orpah and Ruth desired greatly to accompany her, having become so 
much attached to her that they were quite ready to leave their own 
friends and kindred and go to a strange land, esteeming the compan- 
ionship of their good mother-in-law above all other attachments. This 
love greatly affected Naomi, but she, nevertheless, sought to persuade her 
daughters-in-law against their expressed determination, reminding them 
of the uncertainty which such a trip might entail ; that perhaps her old 
friends were now dead and her early acquaintances moved away or had 
forgotten her ; besides, she urged, it were better for them to remain among 
their kinsmen rather than trust themselves upon a journey from which 
they might never return. This argument finally persuaded Orpah to 
remain, but Ruth replied, out of the fervor of her great love : 

“Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following 

after thee ; for whither thou goest I will go ; and where thou 

lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my 

God ; where thou diest I will die, and there will I be buried ; the Lord 

do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.” 

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, which 
she no doubt secretly desired, the two journeyed forward together, and in 
due time arrived at Bethlehem. When her old friends, of whom many yet 
remained in the town, saw her, they greeted her with much affection, 
saying, “Is this Naomi?” To which she replied, “Call me not Naomi, 
call me Mara (meaning She who weeps or laments ), for the Almighty 
hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought 



CO NOT TO GTEAN IN ANOTHER FlEED, NEITHER GO FROM HENCE, BUT ABIDE HERE 
(232) FAST BY MY MAIDENS.— Ruth 2 . 8. 


Naomi had a Kinsman of Her Husband , a Mighty Man of Wealth. 233 



me home again empty. Naomi returned to Bethlehem at the beginning 
of harvest time, and having nothing upon which to feed herself, being so 
extremely poor, she sent Ruth to glean after the reapers in the fields of 
a rich man named Boaz, who was a kinsman of Elimelech. It was cus- 
tomary in Judah to allow poor people 
to follow the harvesters, and gather up 


the few straws 
of grain which 
were left on the 
ground after 
the reapers had 
passed over it. 

This was called 
g 1 e a n i n g. 

While Ruth 
was thus en- 
gaged picking 
up the stray 

straws Boaz came out into the field, and seeing the girl, who was very 
beautiful, inquired of his workmen what damsel it was; to which they 
replied that it was a Moabitish girl who had come into Bethlehem with 
Naomi, and had in the morning asked of them permission to glean. 
Boaz now approached her and told her not to go into any other field to 


AND THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN . . . TOOK THEM WIVES, ACCORDING TO 
THEIR NUMBER, OF THEM THAT DANCED. — Judges 21. 23. 




234 


He Let Fall Some of the Handfuls of Purpose for Her. 



glean, but to continue after bis harvesters and with his maidens, and 
when she was thirsty to drink from the vessels used by his young men. 
Ruth finds favor This kindness, so unexpected, because the poor of Judah 
in the eyes W ere not generally treated with such compassion, Ruth did 
not understand, and she asked why she, being a stranger to 
him, should find so much grace in his eyes. Then Boaz answered that he 
had been told of her love for Naomi, and of how she had left her kinsmen 
to follow her mother-in-law into a strange land, trusting to the Lord for 
shelter. When Ruth had expressed her thanks, Boaz went among his 
reapers and told them to allow the damsel to gather from 
among the sheaves, so that she might take away all the 
grain she wanted, and in addition to this he gave 
her food in plenty from the harvest baskets. 

In the evening Ruth returned to Naomi, carry- 
ing with her an ephah — 
e( l ua l to one bushel and 
a half — of 
threshed bar- 
ley, and re 
lated all that 
had befallen 
her in the 
field of Boaz. 
At the men- 
tion of this 
name, Naomi 
told Ruth that 
he was a near kinsman, 
whose kindness was very 
great since he had forgotten the 
living and the dead. 

In accordance with Boaz’s wish, 
Ruth continued gleaning in the same 

WHITHER THOU GOEST, I WIEE GO; AND WHERE r i i .. 

thou eodgest, i wiee eodge.— R uth 1. 16. held until the end of the harvest, 


Bring the Vail that Thou Hast Upon Thee , and Hold It. 


235 



taking away each day all the grain she could carry. When at length 
threshing time came, Ruth, following the advice of Naomi, went in the 
night to a barn where Boaz was sleeping, and, uncovering his feet, lay 
down by him. About mid- 
night Boaz was awakened, 
and discovering a woman 
lying at his feet, was 
alarmed, and cried out, 

“Who art thou?” She an- 
swered him with becoming 
meekness, telling him of 
her kinship to him and de- 
siring to be covered with his 
skirts. 

The humility and fidel- 
ity of Ruth greatly in- 
creased Boaz’s respect for 
her, who now told the girl 
that he would be her pro- 
tector, calling her his 
“daughter” to assure her 
of his good intentions ; say- 
ing, also, “ I will do to 
thee all that thou requirest, 
for all the city of my peo- 
ple doth know that thou 
art a virtuous woman.” He 

then reminded her that there were kinsmen nearer 
to her than himself, whom he would ask to do to her a kinsman’s part ; 
but if they refused, he would then himself do the part of a kinsman. It 
was a custom among the Israelites, according to a law given by Moses, 
that upon the death of a husband his nearest of male kin took the widow 
for wife, for it was a reproach for any woman to live single. It was to 
this law that Boaz referred when lie told Ruth if her nearest of kin 


HE MEASURED SIX MEASURES 
OF BAREEY. — Ruth 3. 15. 


236 So Boaz Took Ruth , and She was His Wife. 

refused to take her, then he would himself espouse her. When the interview 
with Boaz terminated, he gave Ruth six measures of barley and sent her 
again to Naomi, who, being apprised of all that had passed between 
them, bade her daughter-in-law to wait the fulfilment of what had been 
promised, for that Boaz would certainly make good all his assurances. 

Early in the morning Boaz went up to the gate of the city and there 
sat down, that he might talk with any of the kinsman who should pass 
in or out. As each came by Boaz called to him and urged him to sit 
down, until all the near kinsmen of Naomi had been assembled about 
him ; he next called ten elders of the city, whom he also bade to sit by 
him, and when the party was complete Boaz told the kinsmen that Naomi 
had returned to Bethlehem after selling a parcel of land which was 
Elimelech’s, which he called upon them to redeem, as next of kin, but 
in case they refused to redeem it, then, as second of kin, he would do so 
himself. This was also according to a custom long practiced by the 
Israelites, by which the inheritance of one generation was transmitted 
intact, or increased, to another. 

When Boaz had given these kinsmen notice to redeem the land, or 
renounce their claim in his favor, they all replied that they could not 
make the redemption without sacrificing some of their own 
Boaz espouses This was the reply which it was evident Boaz 

desired them to make, for all his actions prove that he was 
deeply in love with Ruth from the time he first saw her gleaning in his 
field. He now called all the elders and people to witness that he would 
redeem all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s of 
the land of Naomi, and with this promise he also claimed of right, the 
beautiful Ruth, by whom he would perpetuate the inheritance of the two 
sons of Naomi. So Boaz espoused Ruth before all the people, and he took 
both her and Naomi to his house, where he cared for them. In due course 
of time Ruth bore Boaz a son, which Naomi took to her own bosom and 
became a nurse to it. The neighbors named the babe Obed, which signifies 
servant , as it was prophesied that he should become a servant of the Lord. 
Obed became, as we shall see hereafter, the father of Jesse, who was in turn 
the father of David, through whom the descent is traced to Jesus Christ. 


CHAPTER XIII. 



And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 

AMUEL stands as the prophetic archetype, the founder of 
the schools of the prophets, a man of singular faith and 
unswerving righteousness, whose wisdom and righteous- 
ness were of incalculable benefit to Israel. He was the 
successor of Eli; the fifteenth and last judge of Israel 
and the first of the great prophets. His descent is uncertain, because, 
while the Bible tells us that his father was an Ephraimite, his genealogy 
shows him to have been a descendant of a Levite of the family of 
Kohathites. Samuel’s father, Elkanah, we are told, had two wives, one of 
whom, Peninnah, bore him several children, while the other, Hannah, was 
barren ; but for all this Elkanah loved her better than he did Peninnah, and 
at the annual festivals given at the sacrifices at Shiloh, he allowed her a 
double portion. This preference excited Peninnah’s jealousy, so that she 
taunted Hannah for her barrenness and in every manner possible made 
her condition intolerable. At length in the fullness of her 
sorrow Hannah went to the Tabernacle, where Eli was high Hannah s 

° prayer in the 

priest, and fell to praying to God for a son, promising that Tabernacle, 
if one were given her she would consecrate him to the Lord. 

She continued so long at prayer that Eli thought she was disordered by 
drink, and tried to drive her away, but she then told him her troubles and 
so gained his pity that he bade her be of good cheer for God would cer- 
tainly grant her petition. 

The consoling words of Eli greatly encouraged Hannah; who returned 
to her husband in gladness, and within a year she bore a son whom she 
named Samuel, signifying Asked of God . When she next went to the 
Tabernacle to offer sacrifices she remembered her promise and accordingly 
dedicated Samuel to God that he might become a prophet. He was there- 
fore brought up in the Temple, his hair was left uncut and his drink was 

(237) 


238 


The Child Samuel Ministered Unto the Lord Before Eli. 


nothing but water, as was the custom in the raising up of those appointed 
for the priesthood. 

Hannah bore two other sons and three daughters, and she was 
abundantly blessed by God for keeping her promise. 

When Samuel was twelve years of age he was ready to begin 
prophesying, so God called to him while he was asleep, but believing it 
was the voice of Eli he got up hastily and went to the high-priest, to 
know what was wanted of him. Eli told him he had not called, so 
Samuel lay down again, but was soon aroused by a second call, 
when, returning again to Eli to know what was wanted, he was a 
second and even a third time told that no one had called. But Eli 
perceived that some one had spoken, and told Samuel that if he 
should hear the voice again it was surely God who spoke, and 
ordered him to answer. So God called to him again, and Samuel 
answered Him, u Here am I.” Then the Lord told him to 
prophesy of the evils that were to come upon the Israelites, 
and how Eli’s sons would be slain and the priesthood trans- 
ferred to the family of Eleazar. All the things which God 
told him he repeated to Eli at the latter’s request, for 
he did not like to be the bearer of such ill news to 
the high-priest. 

The glory of Samuel now spread rapidly, 
for all the prophecies that he made came to 
pass in due season, and he was hailed by all 
the Jews as their true prophet. It was directly 
after the beginning of the prophesying of Samuel 
that the Philistines went to war against the 
Israelites, who had incurred God’s anger by reason 
of their idolatry and other transgressions. Eli’s 
two sons made themselves specially obnoxious 
by worshiping publicly the idol Ashta- 
roth, and committing other equally great 
sins, which Eli took no steps to punish, 
holding them so highly in his favor that 



The Philistines Fought and Israel was Smitten. 


239 


he preferred his wicked sons to the love of God. The next day after the 
Philistines had made their camp at Aphek, the Israelites engaged them 
in battle, but were defeated with a loss of four thousand men. 

After this defeat the Hebrews became afraid of their enemies, who 
were pressing them sorely. At length the sons of Eli, and other elders 
in Israel, thought they might overcome the Philistines by bringing 
the ark and setting it in their midst during battle. They Thc ark is 
remembered the power God had shown in protecting those captured by the 
who had followed the ark ; and how His holy presence ph,l, s t,ne s. 
was never removed from it, but they did not reflect that it was their 
profanation of the ark and their manifold transgressions against God 
which were the cause of the punishment that was now being sent upon 
them. 

But as they had wished, the ark was brought from the temple and 
carried before the Israel itish host. At sight 
of the ark the Philistines were greatly con- 
cerned, for they had heard 
of the miracles that had 
been performed by its 
presence ; but neverthe- 
less they fell upon the 
Israelites with the 
fury of despair, kill- 
ing thirty thousand, 
and routing the rest, 
and also captured 
the ark, which they 
proudly bore away. 

Among the Israelites 
w T ho were slain that 
day were the two 
wicked sons of Eli, 
as Samuel had pre- 
dicted. 



ELI SAT BY A POST OF THE TEMPEE OF THE LORD.-j Sam.1.9. 


240 He Fell from off the Seat Backward , by the Side of the Gate . 

A certain young Benjaminite was deputed to act as messenger to 
carry the news of the defeat to Shiloh, which was the place in which Eli 
sat in judgment, and where the ark was kept before it was taken into battle. 
As the people of Shiloh, heard, through the messenger, what had hap- 
pened, they filled the city with their lamentations. Eli, who sat upon a 
high throne by one of the gates, hearing the cry of mourning, thought 
some ill thing had happened to his family, and to know the facts he sent 



DAGON WAS FALLEN UPON HIS FACE . . . AND BOTH THE PAEMS OF HIS HANDS WERE CUT OFF. — 

i Sam. 5. 4. 


for the messenger. When he heard that his sons were slain he did not 
show any grief, having been already apprised by the prophesy of Samuel 
of how they should end their days ; but when he was told 
that the ark was captured and taken away, the news so dis- 
tressed him that he fell from his seat upon the stones 
below and broke his neck. Eli was a very large man, and ninety-eight 
years of age at the time of his death, and had been judge for forty years. 


Eli dies by an 
accident. 



241 


Behold , Dagon was Fallen Upon His Face to the Earth. 



On the same day that the fatal accident happened to Eli, the wife 
of his son Phinehas, being unable to support the information of her 
husband’s death, was brought to bed by the excitement, where she gave 
birth to a seven-month’s child, and died immediately after the pangs of 
labor had passed. This child lived 
and received the name of Ichabod, 
which means disgrace , because of the 
defeat which Israel had suffered 
at this time. 

When the Philistines bore 
away the ark of Israel they 
took it to their temple in 
Ashdod, and set it up beside 
their own god, which was 
called Dagon. This idol was 
made to resemble a man above 
the middle and a fish below, 
to personify its rulership over 
land and water. In the morn- 
ing, when the Philistines came 
to worship, what was their sur- 
prise to find poor Dagon lying 
prostrate, as if in attitude of sup- 
plication before the ark. Though 
they restored him time and again to his 
base, every morning they found him lying 
prone before the ark, and finally sadly 
disordered, his head and hands having TO BURN INCENSE BEFORE ME.— 

, . rr i Sam. 2. 28. 

been broken on. 

The misfortunes of Dagon failed to prove to the Philistines their 
iniquity in retaining the ark, so that God sent a terrible plague among 
them, by which the people died in great torment, while myriads of mice 
sprang out of the earth and destroyed all the fruits and plants, until 
their dreadful afflictions at last admonished the Philistines that their 


242 


Send Away the Ark of the God of Israel . 

disasters were due to the ark, and they now clamored for its removal 
from Ashdod. Askelon was a neighboring city in which the people were 
persuaded that the sufferings of their neighbors at Ashdod were due to 
natural causes, and they therefore desired that the ark be brought to them, 
which was accordingly done. 

But hardly had the ark rested in Askelon, when the people of that 
place became afflicted with calamities similar to those that had so griev- 
ously punished the people of Ashdod. It was therefore speedily removed 
again to another city, and was thus carried to five different cities, in each 
of which the plagues spread, until the Philistines were convinced it was 
the ark that bred the diseases which appeared and disappeared with its 
coming and going. 

The disposition of the ark became now so serious a matter that the 
governors of the five principal Philistine cities, Gath, Ekron, Askelon, 
The ark is Gaza and Ashdod, met in solemn council to consider what 
returned to was best to be done. In this council there were some who 
the Israelites, advocated sending the ark immediately away, while others 
declared that the visitations from which they had suffered were not due 
to the ark, as many believed, for if God had so much regard for it, He 
would not have suffered it to fall into their hands ; and they were there- 
fore in favor of retaining it. 

But there was a third party, who said that it was neither right to 
send the ark away nor retain it, but advocated the dedication of five 
golden images, one for each city, as a thank-offering to God for having 
spared their lives from the distempers spread among them. They also 
desired that five golden mice might be made, which they advised the 
governors to have placed in a bag and laid upon the ark. Also that a 
new cart be made, to which a yoke of milch-kine should be attached, but 



1 

Iffjfpw 

• -\ND 



The Kine Took the Straight Way to . . . Beth-shemish. 


243 


that the calves be kept from following after their dams, and driven to the 
spot where three roads met. Upon reaching such a place it was recom- 
mended that the cows be allowed to select their own way. If the cows 
should go toward the Hebrews it would be taken as a proof 
that the ark had been the cause of their misfortunes, but , , , . . 

lowed the kine. 

should they go either of the other ways they recommended 
that the ark be taken back to their cities, since it might be accepted as 
an evidence that the plagues were in no wise the result of the ark’s 
presence. The suggestions of these latter advocates found such general 
sanction that 
they were at 
once put into 
effect. 

The kine 
were har- 
nessed to the 
ark and driven 
to where three 
ways met, 
when, being 
left to select 
t h ei r own 
route, they 

went directly toward the Israelites 
until they came to a village in Judah 
called Bethshemesh, the Philistines 
following in the mean time to see of god. tsam.4. 13. 

what would befall their enterprise. When the ark came in sight of the 
village all the people of the country left off working and came flocking 
out to greet it and express their joy. They ran to the cart, and taking 
the ark and the vessels containing the images and golden mice, set them 
upon a rock that stood in the plain. Here now they killed the cows and 
burned the cart as a splendid sacrifice to God, which, the Philistines 
seeing, they turned back, satisfied in their own minds that the ark was 
Israel’s and a plague to other people. 



244 Put Azvay the Strange Gods and Ashtaroth from Among You. 

While the people about Bethshemesh were making the burnt offer- 
ing, seventy men, who were participating at the sacrifice, looked into the 
Punishment for ar k i n a profane manner, possibly coveting the golden images, 
profaning and were instantly struck dead by the hand of God. The 

the ark. Bible tells us that there were smitten at this time fifty 

thousand three-score and ten men, but in a foot-note in Josephus’ works 
is the following: 

“ These seventy men, being not so much as Levites, touched the ark in a rash or 
, profane manner, and were slain by the hand of God for such their rashness and profane- 
ness, according to the Divine threatenings. — Numb. iv. 15, 20; but how our other copies 
came to add such an incredible number as fifty thousand in this one town or city, I know 
not.” See Dr. Wall’s critical notes on 1 Sam. vi. 19. 

Upon recovering the ark, the Israelites became suddenly conscious of 
their iniquities, and showed such a contrite spirit that Samuel seized the 
occasion to move their hearts yet stronger toward God. He reminded 
them that the source of all their discomfitures was in their own wicked- 
ness, and assured them that if they really desired to become free from the 
Philistine yoke, they could obtain their wish by being righteous and cast- 
ing sin out of their souls, promising himself as surety for their deliver- 
ance if they would but turn to God. 

Samuel’s speech greatly pleased the Israelites, who gave their promise 
to resign themselves to the will of God, whereupon Samuel assembled 
them together at Mizpeh ( watch tower), where they drew water and 
poured it out as a libation to Jehovah, and, after fasting all day, betook 
themselves to praying. In the midst of their prayers, the Israelites were 
set upon by the Philistines, who had observed the great gathering, and 
who took them by surprise. Being wholly unarmed, as well as intimi- 
dated by their enemies, the Israelites scattered and fled in terror, coming 
to Samuel with woeful forebodings on their lips, and begging him to 
intercede with God in their behalf. 

Samuel bade his people to be of good cheer, since God would 
assuredly assist them according to His promises. So he took a sucking 
lamb and sacrificed it for the multitude, at the same time praying God 
to hold His protecting hand over them when they should fight with the 


245 


The Lord Thundered with a Great Thunder on that Day . 


Philistines. While this sacrifice was being made, the Philistines drew 
near in battle array against the unarmed Israelites ; but before they had 
begun an attack, God sent a terrible earthquake, which split the earth 
asunder in many chasms, into which thousands of the Philistines were 
hurled, while heavy thunder 
and blinding lightning 
caused those who escaped 



being ingulfed to 
drop their weapons 
and flee in confu- 
sion. The Israel- 
ites followed after 
them, seizing the 


AND THE EEVlTES TOOK DOWN THE ARK OF THE EORD AND THE 
COFFER THAT WAS WITH IT. — i Sam. 6. 15. ’ 


weapons that had been dropped, with which they killed many others, and 
drove the remainder as far as Bethcar ( house of lambs). This great 
victory, secured by the direct aid of God, was duly celebrated by praises, 


246 The Lord was Against the Philistines All the Days of Samuel. 

and a memorial stone was set up as a remembrance of the Philistines’ 
flight, which was called Eben-ezer (the stone of power). Soon after 
this battle, Samuel headed an expedition into the enemy’s country, which 
Samuel is made was so successful that, besides slaying great numbers of 
a judge of Philistines, he humbled the others, and dispossessed them of 
lsrael * all the lands they had acquired from the Jews by conquest, 
and gave peace to all of Palestine during the remaining days of his 
rulership. In recognition of the services of Samuel, he was honored 



AEE THE MEN OF ISRAEE WENT OUT OF MIZPEH, AND PURSUED THE PHIIJSTINES. — 1 Sam. 7. n. 

by appointment to the office of Judge of Israel, in which position he 
acted with great justice and became almost an oracle to the people of 
neighboring countries. His life would have been doubtless a happy one 
throughout but for the misconduct of his sons, who will be mentioned 
again hereafter, as well as the acts of Samuel also. Samuel ruled Israel 
somewhat differently from the administration of former judges, for while 
he held his personal court at Ramah, he appointed a court in every city 



247 


Samuel Told All the Words of the Lord Unto the People. 

and district, which he attended twice every year. But after a time he 
grew too old to conveniently make these semi-annual circuits, and to 
relieve himself from the labor, he committed the government to the 
care of his two sons, the elder of whom was called Joel, and the younger 
Abiah. 

He sent one to the city of Bethel and the other to Beersheba, and made 
each district distinct and answerable to the judgment of the respective sons. 
They had not long held the reins of government, however, The Israelites 
before they fell into extravagances that required expenditures demand a kin e- 
greater than their proper incomes could provide, and as a consequence, 
they became corrupt and venal ; they perverted justice for gifts and bribes, 
and thus oppressed the people to provide luxuries for themselves, until at 
length the masses could endure their shameless conduct no longer. Taking 
council therefore among the elders, some of the Israelites brought their 
complaints to Samuel, whom they begged to relieve them of their oppressions 
by appointing a king to reign over them and manage their affairs after the 
manner of the neighboring Macedonian kings. 

Samuel was much distressed by the urgent request of the people, and 
for many nights took no rest for troubling over the affairs which had been 
brought to his attention. He, like Gideon, would have told the people that 
Jehovah should alone rule Israel, but he knew that their complaints were 
well founded and therefore such advice would have by no means satisfied 
them. 

While tormented thus in mind, and resolving what he .should do, 
Samuel was called by God, who bade him not despair since it was not he but 
Himself whom the Israelites complained of; God further told him that the 
people should receive fitting punishment for their grumblings and desire for 
a king. “ So I command thee,” says the Lord, “to ordain them such a one 
as I shall name beforehand to be their king, when thou has first described 
what mischiefs kingly government will bring upon them, and openly testified 
before them into what a great change of affairs they are hastening.” 

In the morning Samuel called the Jews together, and after confessing 
to them that he would ordain a king, told them of the adversities they 
would fall into by reason of such a ruler; showing how, to sustain the 


248 


Ye Shall Cry Out in that Day Because of Your King. 



government and the condition 
befitting their dignity and ex- 
altation, such kings would draft 
many people into their service, 
some of whom would be chariot- 
drivers, others archers, guards, 
rnnners-before, servants, hus- 
bandmen, diggers in the field ; 
and equal servitude would be 
imposed upon the daughters of 
Israel. But, besides this, he 
assured them 
that their kings 
would take 
away the peo- 
ple’s possessions 
to bestow upon 
the eunuchs at 
court, and take 
the cattle and 
give them to 
their servants ; 
and, in short, the 
people would be 
scarcely supe- 
rior to slaves. 

He further told them that in time they would 

sorely repent having asked for a king, and 

would cry to God for deliverance, but that the Lord would not hearken 
to their prayers, rather permitting them to suffer the punishment which 
their evil conduct deserved. 


AND WHEN THEY CAME 
THITHER . . . BEHOI.D, A 
COMPANY OF PROPHETS 
MET THEM.—j Sam. ip. 10. 


But to Samuel’s kindly advice and his predictions of what would come 
to pass the people turned a deaf ear, except to admonish him against 
anticipating evils, which they did not believe would follow the ordination 



wealthy and powerful Benjaminite, who kept many flocks and who brought 
up his family to pastoral pursuits. Saul, at the time of which I write, 
about 1000 B. C., was perhaps forty years of age, for he had grown sons, 
yet he continued in the service of his father, as was the custom in Israel. 


There was Not Among the Children of Israel a Goodlier Person. 249 

of a king. So when he saw the Israelites fully determined, Samuel 
ordered them all to return to their several homes, promising to send them 
a king as soon as he should know, from God, whom to appoint. 

In the city of Gibeah, which was not many leagues distant from 
Ramah, there lived a man named Saul, who was the son of Kish, a 


THOU HAST KEPT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD THY GOD. — i Sam. 13. 13. 


250 


Tell Me, I Pray Thee , Where the Seer's House is. 

On an occasion some very fine she-asses, which Kish valued more 
than all his other live-stock, broke out of the pasture where they were 
Saul seeks es usua ^Y kept and wandered away, none knew whither. Learn- 
caped asses ing this fact Kish sent his son Saul, accompanied by a single 
and finds a servant, in search of them. The two set out and traveled 
kingdom. near iy three days without discovering any trace of the 
strayed asses, which so discouraged Saul that he proposed to return, lest 
his father’s solicitude for his long absence be greater than for the lost 
animals, but the servant replied that they were now near the city of 
Ramah, where dwelt a most renowned prophet, and he proposed that they 
go to this man and ask him the place where they might find the asses. 
Saul was in no wise adverse to this suggestion, but he remembered that 
his money was spent, and he therefore had no means to pay the seer 
(prophet) for the information sought. The servant, however, had the 
fourth of a sheckel and offered to give this, whereupon the two went on. 

When Saul and his servant reached the suburbs of Ramah, they 
met some maidens that were going out of the gates to fetch water, and 
these they asked for directions to the prophet’s house. The maidens 
showed them and also bade them to hasten quickly, as the prophet was 
about to sit down to a feast with many invited guests. 

It so happened that Samuel had brought seventy-one (according to 
Josephus) of the elders of Israel to feast with him on that day, for the 
Samuel reveals purpose of consulting with them concerning the king whom 
Saul's selection God had promised to send at the hour they were to eat. 

as kmg. But at the time Saul entered the gates Samuel was sitting 
on his house-top watching for the approach of the Benjaminite who was 
to be ordained as the Lord had declared. As he saw the young man 
coming, Samuel retired from the house-top and met him, and at that 
moment God revealed to him that the stranger was he who should be 
ruler of Israel. But Saul did not know who it was that had greeted 
him, for he inquired again the way to the prophet’s house. Samuel now 
enlightened him, and the two retired into the house, where they presently 
sat down to supper. But before they had begun to sup Samuel told Saul 
that the asses were found and he should come up with them presently, 


251 


Samuel Took a Vial of Oil , and Poured it Upon His Head . 



but that greater news was yet in store for him, for he had been chosen 
king of Israel. Saul knew not how to regard this speech of Samuel’s, 
whether it was in jest, to make sport of him before the other guests, or 
in earnest ; he therefore asked why he should be made the object of 
laughter. When, however, Saul perceived that 
Samuel was in earnest, he betrayed much mod- 
esty by declaring 
himself too incon- 
siderable to hope for 
such great things ; 

“ besides,” says he, 

“ I am of a tribe 
too small to have 
kings made out of 
it, and of a family 
smaller than sev- 
eral other families.” 

Saul remained 
all night with Sam- 
uel, and in the 
morning when he 
departed the prophet 
went a distance 
with him. When 
they had come to 
a retired spot Saul 
was bidden to send 
his servant on 
apace, that no one 
might be near ; and when they were thus alone, Samuel took a vessel 
of oil with which he anointed Saul king, as the Lord had prescribed. 
Samuel then told him how he would soon meet three men who would 
inform him where his asses might be found ; then, after going as far as 
Gabatha, he would overtake a company of prophets, whereupon he would 


THEN SAMUEL TOOK A VIAL OF OIL, AND POURED IT UPON HIS HEAD. — • 
i Sam. io. i. 


252 Samuel Told the People the Manner of the Kingdom. 

be seized by the Divine spirit and begin prophesying, until all the people 
would wonder. 

The choice of the people being declared, Saul was commanded to 
assume the office of king ; but when the people sought for him to proclaim 
him their sovereign he had disappeared and could not for some time be 
found. So great was the diffidence of his nature that he had hidden 
himself, and had finally to be drawn from the place of his concealment. 
When he was brought up the people saw that he was of majestic size, 
being a shoulder taller than any of his people, and they cried with one 
voice, “ God save the king!” 

Being now duly ordained ruler of Israel, Saul returned to his home 
in Gibeah, but not until Samuel had given a new code of laws to the 
Israelites, to which even the king was made subject, and 
Samuel gives * n sanctuary for the guidance of all that should 

a new 

code of laws, come after. He also prophesied the things which should 
come to pass during the rulership of Saul. The multitude 
was now dismissed, but many went away muttering their dissatisfaction at 
the choice of Saul for king, for jealousies were as common in those days 
as they are in these. 

There is little in the Bible concerning Saul until he had ruled two 
years ; as, indeed, there was nothing of material interest to describe during 
this time, because all the country about was at peace; but now the Philis- 
tines began to make themselves troublesome again, and had planned an 
invasion, which Saul prepared to resist by raising an army of three 
thousand men. He took command himself of two thousand, and appointed 
his son, Jonathan, captain over the others. He had scarcely made this 
defensive preparation when a small army of Philistines invaded the 
country, but Saul easily beat them without much loss, however, to either 
side. But it is probable that the small army of Philistines spoken of 
were rather sent as spies to see what the Israelites were doing under their 
new king. 

Soon after this event the Ammonites, under command of Nabash, 
laid siege to the city of Jabesh-gilead, and so certain were they of 
effecting its capture that they refused to consider any better terms of 


They Slew the Ammonites Until the Heat of the Day . 


253 


surrender than the condition that the right eye of every person of the 
city should be put out. Under pretence of giving even this hard and 
shameful condition consideration, the people of Jabesh-gilead Saul’s first 
asked for a seven days’ truce, which was granted. This time battle, 
was most profitably employed, for messengers were at once dispatched to 
Saul, at Gibeah, for help, who delayed not a moment in giving the assistance 



AND DAVID PUYED WITH HIS HAND . . . AND THERE WAS A JAVEUN IN SAUL’S HAND. — 1 Sam. 18. 10. 

so badly needed. He forthwith issued a call for troops among all the people 
of Israel, accompanying the order for enlistment with promises of severe 
punishment upon those who failed to respond promptly. In a few days 
he was thus enabled to assemble an army of 330,000 men at Bezek. 
He now made a forced march to Jabesh-gilead, before which he arrived 


254 


See Ye Him Whom the Lord Hath Chosen. 



on the sixth day of the truce, and fell upon the Ammonites at night, to 
their surprise, routing the camp and slaying many thousands. As the 
enemy retreated Saul pursued them throughout the entire day until 

darkness put 
an end to the 
slaughter. 

This vic- 
tory of Saul’s 
many of his 
snbj ects de- 
sired to cele- 
brate by put- 
ting to death 
all those who 
had grum- 
bled, in their 
jealousies, 
against his ordination as 
king, but he was above the 
petty spites so often ex- 
hibited by his people, as with 
dignity and clemency befitting 
a king he replied that no man should 
be put to death on the day that 
Jehovah had saved Israel. 

His success as a soldier and 
mercy as a king put an end to 
all opposition to his ruling, so that 

THEN DAVID . . . STOOD ON TOP OF A HIED 

afar off.— i sam. 26. 13. Saul was now solemnly ordained by 

all the tribes at Gilgal, who had before opposed his reign. At the festival, 
given soon after, Samuel was present and addressed the people, at the 
same time resigning his judgeship, which office now became abolished 
by reason of the substitution of a monarchy. Being old and full of the 
Spirit of God, at the same time possessing great love for his people, Samuel 


255 


\ 

Stand Still , that I May Reason with You Before the Lord. 

spoke to them in a most touching and compassionate manner. He first 
desired from them an acknowledgment of the integrity of his judicial 
administration, which being given, he charged the people Samuel’s advice 
with ingratitude to God, whom they had grievously sinned to the P co P ,e * 
against, in calling for an earthly king to rule over them, rather than 
trusting themselves to the mighty arm and loving providence of Jehovah. 
But he reminded them that since their requests had been granted, they 
owed a sovereign allegiance to the king of their selecting, respect for 
whom was necessary to the full establishment of the kingdom. He 
further told them that if they served both Jehovah and their king they 
would attain to all blessings, but if they were rebellious the hand of 
God would punish them as it had their fathers. As an evidence of the 

prophetic character of his utterances, and the inspiration which had 

moved him, he lifted his eyes toward heaven, it being a clear day in 
harvest time, and called God to show the people a sign of His presence 
by sending a thunder storm out of the sky. No sooner had he spoken 
than a terrible rain came pouring down, accompanied by fearful peals of 
thunder and dazzling flashes of lightning. The people were stricken 
with fear for their lives at this exhibition of Jehovah’s response to 
Samuel’s prayer, and in terror fell on their knees and begged Samuel to 
avert God’s wrath. He bade them fear not, but to keep the Lord’s laws, 
who would watch over them as long as they lived uprightly. 

When Saul had chosen 3000 men at Bethel, as already referred to, 
it is probable that it was his intention to use them as a body-guard, 

2000 of whom were to remain with him and the other 1000 to be with 

his son Jonathan at Gibeah. These were no doubt depended upon to 
serve him loyally in cases of insurrection or any emergency, just as we 
see monarchs of the Old World to-day provided with a contingent of loyal 
soldiers to serve as a body-guard, or special protectors of the royal person. 

It was not long after Saul’s defeat of Nahash that the Philistines 
recovered from their surprise and rout, and mustered their armies again 
for another contest. A party of the enemy therefore formed a garrison 
on a hill called Geba, which was opposite Saul’s camp at Michmash. 
Jonathan was first to discover their presence, and supposing their object 


256 Jonathan Climbed Upon His Hands. . . His Armour-bearer After Him . 

was to surprise the king, he sallied out, ac- 
companied by no other person than his armor- 
bearer, to challenge the Philistines to battle. 
The arms of soldiers at that time being 
spears, swords and shields, it was quite a 
common practice for the soldiers of one army 
to challenge those of another to conflict, and 
these duels were usually witnessed by the 
two armies without interference, as such fights 
greatly encouraged personal valor. 

When Jonathan went out to challenge 
the Philistines he seems to have been under 
the guidance of God, for he spoke to his 
attendant as a prophet, telling him, if the 
Philistines answered his challenge by asking 
him to wait, then it should be taken as a sign 
that the Lord would not help him ; but if, on the 
other hand, they should cry out to him, “ Come up 
to us,” then he would go up, for God would give 
him the victory. So Jonathan and his armor-bearer 
went and stood in sight of the Philistines, whom 
they challenged, any one of them, to battle. But 
the Philistines replied by mocking them with laugh- 
ter, and saying, “ Come up to us and we will show 
you a thing.” Jonathan took these words as a sign 
of his victory, and clambered up over some large 
rocks wdiich separated him from the enemy, his 
armor-bearer faithfully following. When they came 
up to the Philistines they fell upon them and fought 
with such valor that they killed no less than twenty. While the unequal 
contest was thus waging an earthquake occurred which shook the earth 
so violently that all the Philistines became helpless with terror. 

The watchmen in Saul’s camp saw the fighting among the Philistines, 
and reported what they had witnessed to Saul. He knowing nothing of 



1 Sam. 20. 21. 


When the People Were Come . . . Behold , the Honey Dropped. 257 


his son’s adventure, was for a time sorely puzzled, for he could not 
discover who was waging war with his enemies. To explore this mystery, 
therefore, he ordered the roll called of all his army, by which 
he ascertained that Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not T !* c 1 _ b , att, l c . l ° n 
in the camp ; and now, perceiving that it must be they who 
were fighting the Philistines, he set his army in motion to the hill 
of Geba. A great battle now took place, in which the Israelites were 
victorious, driving the enemy from their camp and pursuing them out of 
the country. So eager was he in this pursuit that Saul commanded his 
soldiers not to stop to eat until night was come, threatening with dire 
punishment any who should disobey his order. 

Jonathan was leading his one thousand men in the pursuit, and 
toward evening he came to a wood in which he found a hive of honey 
in a tree. All his men were very hungry, but they were afraid to eat the 
honey because of Saul’s order. Jonathan, however, not being told of his 
father’s prohibition, dipped his staff into the honey and thus conveyed 
some of the comb to his mouth. When this act was reported to Saul he 
immediately ordered that Jonathan be put to death, which sentence would 
have been executed but for the earnest pleading of the soldiers for his 
life, asking, “ Shall he who won this great victory for us be put to death ?” 
and afterward declaring that no harm should come to him. This demand, 
that he spare Jonathan, was made in such an imperative manner that 
Saul was compelled to respect it. 

Saul slew sixty thousand Philistines in this engagement, besides 
taking great numbers of cattle and much spoils, and then returned to his 
own city and reigned in peace for some time, and until Samuel called 
him to punish the Amalekites and their allies. His success thus far had 
been so signal that the Israelites looked upon him as an inspired leader, 
and therefore rendered him such obedience that there was great prosperity 
among them. In time of peace he was not idle, however; for being sur- 
rounded by tribes whose hatred of Israel was perpetual, he increased his 
army, organized cavalry and chariot forces, and recruited from among the 
tallest and most vigorous of his subjects a body-guard that became famous 
for valor throughout the realm. 


17 


258 Go and Smite Amalek , and Utterly Destroy All that They Have. 



When, therefore, Samuel bade Saul to wage war against the Amale- 
kites he had . the finest army that had ever been organized. This war 
was to be one of extermination, for Samuel commanded 
Saul s expedi- g au ] p Ursue the Amalekites constantly, from generation 

tion against 

the Amalekites. to generation, beginning with the women and children, and 
to spare not one, nor even the asses or cattle, but to “ blot 
out the name of Amalek entirely,” as Moses had before ordered. This 

dreadful, remorse- 
less punishment 
was to be inflicted 
on the Amale- 
kites for the out- 
rages they had 
perpetrated on 
the Israelites dur- 
ing their sojourn 
in the wilderness, 
and upon the 
principle ex- 
pounded by 
Moses, that the 
sins of the father 
should be visited 
upon his children 
and future gen- 

EARTH. — 1 Sam. 28. 13. , • 

erations. 

In obedience to the command of Samuel, Saul hastened to gather 
his forces together at Gilgal, where, after numbering them, he found 
his army to consist of four hundred and thirty thousand men, at the 
head of which he marched into the country of the Amalekites and set 
parties in ambush at the river fords, so as to permit none to escape. 
He then began a series of surprises by which the Amalekites fell before 
him in great numbers, scarcely offering any resistance. He also attacked 
their cities and strongholds, and drove them out by battering down their 


259 


It Repenteth Me that I Have Set Up Saul to be King. 


walls, or by digging tunnels underneath, or by building overtopping 
walls and towers, from which his archers could rain down their arrows 
upon the people inside the defences. These strategies were first practiced 
by Saul, who therefore won greater honor for his masterful abilities as a 
soldier than had before been accorded him, and to this day he is entitled 
to rank among the great kings and generals of the world’s history. 

The ruthless ravages of Saul’s immense army were not long in 
accomplishing the utter destruction of the Amalekites, but their king, 
Agag, fell into his hands, whose comely person and per- 
suading eloquence so prevailed with Saul that he resolved a gainst God 
to spare him. The soldiers, too, instead of killing all the 
cattle, as they were ordered to do, were content to capture and keep 
them as a prey, and also to appropriate the spoils to their own use. 
All of these acts were offensive to God, who had ordered, through 
Samuel, that nothing should be spared, and especially that the Amalekites 
should be destroyed both root and branch. 

When Saul had returned from his great victory he was met -by 
Samuel, to whom he ran in raptures, declaring that God had given him 
the victory and that he had done everything God commanded. Samuel, 
however, had already been told by God of how Saul had done that 
which he was specially bidden not to do, and he therefore said to the 
king : “ How is it then that I hear the bleating of the sheep and the 
lowing of the greater cattle in the camp ? ” This inquiry covered Saul 
with confusion, who managed, however, to excuse himself by saying the 
cattle had been reserved for sacrifices. He admitted also that he had 
spared the Amalekite king, but it was in order to bring him before the 
prophet for sentence what should be done with him. 

To the answers of Saul, Samuel made reply in full explanation of 
his faults before God, saying, “ God is not delighted with Samue| rebukes 
sacrifices, but with good and with righteous men, who are saui and 
such as follow His will and His laws, and never think prophesies his 
that anything is well done by them but when they do as dc P° s,t,on * 

. God has commanded them that He then looks upon Himself as affronted, 
not when any one does not sacrifice, but when any one appears to be 


260 Wherefore , Then , Didst Thou Not Obey the Voice of the Lord? 


from 
pay 
done 
will 

not kindly accept their oblations, be those they offer ever so many and 
so fat, and be the presents they make Him ever so ornamental ; nay, 
though they were made of gold and silver themselves; but He will reject 
them, and esteem them instances of wickedness and not of piety. And 
that He is delighted with those who still bear in mind this one thing, 
and this only, how to do that, whatsoever it be, which God pronounces 
or commands for them to do, and to choose rather to die than to 
transgress any of those commands ; nor does He require so much as a 
sacrifice from them. And when these do sacrifice, though it be a mean 
oblation, He better accepts of it, as the honor of poverty, than such 
oblations as come from the richest men that offer them to Him. Where- 
fore, take notice that thou art under the wrath of God, for thou hast 
despised and neglected what He commanded thee. How dost thou then 
suppose that He will respect a sacrifice out of such things as He hath 
doomed to destruction ? unless perhaps thou dost imagine that it is 
almost one to offer it in sacrifice to God as to destroy it.” 

To this rebuke Samuel added the prophecy that Saul should not 
much longer be king, for God would depose him and set up a new 
ruler more worthy of the place than Saul had proved himself to be. 

This sentence added greatly to the distress of Saul, who had now 
become somewhat vainglorious and anxious for the world’s applause, so he 
besought Samuel to pray God for his forgiveness, promising never to offend 
again, and asking the prophet to go back with him that he might offer 



26 i 


Samuel Hewed Agag in Pieces Before the Lord in Gilgal. 


his thank-offering to God. But Samuel would not stay to hear him 
further, knowing that God would not become reconciled, whatever his 
promises, and turned to depart. At this the anxiety of Saul was so much 
increased that he took hold of Samuel’s cloak in an effort to detain him, 
but the cloak was torn in his hand, whereupon the prophet told him that 
this was a new sign that his kingdom should be rent and taken from him 
and given to a good and just man. 

Seeing that his disobedience would not be forgiven, Saul asked Samuel 
to go with him and worship God, which favor the prophet granted. When 
they had concluded their worshiping, Agag, the captive Jhc tcrriblc 
Amalekite king, was brought in, whose first exclamation execution of 
before Samuel was, “How bitter is death !” possibly reflect- K ' n gA g ag. 
ing upon his own miserable end, or with the hope of exciting the prophet’s 
compassion. Whether Samuel felt any pity for the unhappy monarch we 
know not, but certainly he regarded the king as well meriting death, for 
he said to him : “ As thou hast made many of the Hebrew mothers to 
lament and bewail the loss of their children, so shalt thou, by thy death, 
cause thy mother to lament thee also.” So saying Samuel seized a 
sword and cut Agag to pieces, after which act he left Gilgal and went 
to his own city, Ramah, nor did he ever come to see Saul again, though 
he mourned long for the king’s transgressions. 

After Samuel had spent some time in Ramah mourning for Saul’s 
disobedience, God told him to leave off his grief, as he had a new duty 
for him to perform in the ordination of a new king of 
Israel. He therefore ordered the prophet to take some holy me * t ^David 
oil and proceed to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, and as Saul’ s sue- 
there anoint one of his sons to be king in Saul’s place. cessor. 

At this command, Samuel was much concerned for fear that 
Saul would learn of his mission and kill him to prevent the choosing 
of another king. But God removed his fears by directing him in a safe 
way, so that Samuel reached Bethlehem without trouble and repaired at 
once to Jesse’s house. When he saluted the family they asked the pur- 
pose of his mission, to which he replied that it was to sacrifice to God. 
Samuel now set to work to prepare a heifer for the sacrifice, which being 


262 


Send Me David , Thy Son , Which is with the Sheep. 



AND THE LORD SENT THUN- 
DER AND RAIN THAT DAY ! 
AND ADD THE PEOPLE 
GREATLY FEARED THE LORD 
AND SAMUEL. — I Sam. 12. 18. 


completed, he called Jesse and his sons, eight in number, to partake 
with him. Now, there were only seven of the sons present, the youngest, 
whose name was David, being at the time tending his father’s flocks in a 
pasture somewhat remote from Bethlehem. When Jesse and his sons 
came to the sacrifice, Samuel perceived that the eldest son, Eliab, was 
tall and comely, very much resembling Saul, so he was upon the point of 
anointing him King, when God interposed, telling the prophet that he 
was not to seek a king among the tall and comely of feature, but from 


263 


David Came to Saul and Stood Before Him. 

the righteous in heart. Then Samuel would have anointed the second 
eldest, but the Lord again restrained him ; and so continued to withhold 
His sanction from the selection of all the seven sons. Samuel, now much 
embarrassed as to what he should do, asked Jesse if the seven were all 
the sons he had. The father replied that there was one othfer, the 
youngest, who was tending the sheep. So the young man was sent for ; 
and when he came before Samuel, the Spirit of the Lord commanded 
that he be anointed, for it waS he that had been chosen to rule over 
Israel. 

David ( the beloved ), at the time of his selection, was a small stripling, 
of ordinary size, and in no sense commanding in appearance. His aspect 
was rather that of one in whom the poetic sentiment predominates — a 
tender, music-loving youth, full of bright fancies and joyful satisfaction, 
who enjoyed the companionship of his sheep more than the company of 
boys, and preferred rhapsodies and reflections to the common pastimes of 
boyhood. And yet this grandson of the beautiful Ruth and the just 
Boaz, was destined to be the greatest king that ever ruled, and from him 
was to descend the Christ, the King of kings. 

David’s introduction to Saul was quite as singular as the circumstances 
under which God had appointed him to take the sceptre of the Israelites. 
Being much alone in the fields with his father’s sheep, 

David spent much of his time m playing upon the harp to swect harpist< 
beguile the hours and indulge his love for music, until he 
became known as a most skilled performer, whose music delighted all who 
came to listen to him. 

Now, after Samuel’s rebuke of Saul, and the prophecy that he should 
not much longer rule Israel, he fell into a great melancholy and was 
troubled with loss of sleep and the vexings of spirits. To comfort him 
in these spells, Saul’s servants and physicians recommended that he send 
for a harper, whose music would bring peace to his soul and comfort to 
his troubled mind. This advice seemed so well that Saul sent for David, 
whose fame as a player upon the harp was made known to him. But at 
this time, no one save the immediate family of Jesse knew that David had 
been anointed by Samuel, for God had commanded that the matter be kept 


264 When the Evil Spirit . . . was Upon Saul David Took a Harp . 



CAST IN THY LOT 
AMONG US. 


His own good time for re- 
David was brought by his 
Saul’s house, and remained 
for some time ; for so well 
relieve Saul’s distemper 
was prevailed upon to be- 
king’s armour-bearer, and 
ber of his household, 
told us in the sacred writ- 


secret until 
vealing it. 
f at h e r to 
with the king 
did his music 
that the youth 
come the 
be also a mem- 
It is not 
ings how long 
David remain- 
ed with Saul, 
and the nar- 
rative is also 
s o m e w ha t 
confusing as 
to whether 
David was 
appointed ar- 
mour-bearer 
before or af- 
ter his fight 

with Goliath ; but it is more consis- 
tent with appearances and natural 
consequences to supppose that it was after. 

Another difficulty meets us in the apparent conflict of statements wherein it 
is made to appear that Saul remained at peace after his destruction of the 
Amalekites and their allies, while succeeding chapters are devoted to the 
descriptions of his battles with the Philistines, among whom were classed the 
Amalekites, Moabites, Ammonites, etc. This confusion undoubtedly arises, 
as was explained in a previous chapter, from the want of sequence in the 
narrative. This is even illustrated by the fact that David was the great- 
grandson of Ruth, and yet circumstances are related in the history between 
Ruth and the last chapters of 1 Samuel, which must have occurred nearly 


There Went Out a Champion Out of the Camp . . . Named Goliath. 265 


four hundred years after Ruth’s death. But without attempting to describe 
the events chronologically, or arguing the reasons why the compilers 
neglected to arrange the books of the Bible in the proper order as indi- 
cated by consecutive events, we will proceed according to the history as 
it is printed, being content with the assurance that the imperfect arrange- 
ment in no wise diminishes the interest or truth of the sacred narrative. 

David returned to his father and resumed the duties of shepherd after 
a length of service in Saul’s house, but events were now to happen that 
would soon call him from his quiet pursuit to take arms, and before man- 
hood’s period was reached he was to become the most famous warrior in 
all Israel. 

Josephus says it was not long after David drove the spirit of melan- 
choly from Saul by the melody of his voice and harp, that the Philistines 
reorganized a great army and again went to war with the 

The army of 

Israelites. They pitched their camp on a plain between Israel confronts 
Shochoh and Azekah, but were soon driven from that place the,r cncm,cs * 
by Saul’s army, which now came out to oppose them. It is more likely 
that, instead of being driven from their first position, the Philistines with- 
drew of their own accord in order to take up a more strategic place on a 
hill near by, from whence a wide view was afforded. Saul also occupied 
a hill, which lay opposite the Philistine camp, so that a valley lay between 
the two camps. 

It would appear that neither army was anxious to open hostilities, for 
they lay thus inactive, glaring at each other for a period of forty days, con- 
tent with exchanging taunts, each awaiting an attack from the other, as, 
owing to the nature of the encampments, the attacking party would have to 
march up a steep hill exposed to a galling fire of arrows and stones from 
those on the apex. There was in the Philistine camp a man 
named Goliath, a citizen of Gath, whose stature was so 
extraordinary that his very aspect inspired terror. His height 
. W as above eight feet, and his bulk proportionate, so that he must have 
weighed four hundred pounds at least. But the arms that he bore were 
even more formidable and massive than his size. He was protected by a 
coat of mail that weighed more than one hundred and fifty pounds, while 


266 


The Staff of His Spear was Like a Weaver's Beam. 



A WISE MAN SCAEETH THE CITY OF THE 
MIGHTY. 


beneath this and on his limbs were greaves of brass, the value of which 
at that time was greater than gold, and he wore a helmet made of the 
same metal. He carried a spear that was so heavy he had to support it 
on his shoulder ; the head of it was made of iron, a metal even more rare 
than brass, which weighed above twenty pounds, while several attendants 
followed behind carrying his shield, which was made to resemble a moon. 
This giant’s voice was quite as terrible as his general aspect, for when he 
cried out it was like the deep 
tones of thunder. Relying 
upon his amazing strength 
and the massive armor 
that he wore, he 


marched down from the Philistine camp dnto the valley below and thence 
hurled defiance at the Israelites, challenging any “of the servants of Saul ” 
to come out and fight him. But at his appearance all the army of Saul 
were dismayed, and no one was bold enough to hazard an issue with 
him. Every day, for forty days, this giant went into the valley, near 
the Israelites’ camp, and bellowed his defiance, returning to the Philis- 
tines at evening to gloat over his valor and the cowardice of the enemy. 
In Saul’s army at this time were the three eldest brothers of David, 


Why Contest Thou . . . Thither? 


267 



for whose safety Jesse was so greatly concerned that he sent David to 
inquire of their welfare and to carry such messages as he might choose 
to send. As he came into the Israelite camp on the afternoon of the 
fortieth day that Goliath had stood before the army of Israel, he heard 

the giant issuing his usual challenge, 
and observed the fear that possessed the 
people. A youth, a mere stripling, 
though he was, David’s courage and 
pride revolted at the cowardice displayed 


HE CHOSE HIM FIVE SMOOTH STONES 
OUT OF THE BROOK — 1 Sara. 17 40. 

by the Israelites, seeing 
that none would go out to 
fight. “ Who,” he asked, “ is this Philis- 
tine, that he should defy the armies of the 

DAVID RAN, AND STOOD UPON THE PHILIS- 

living God?” Those who stood near told tine, and took his sword, . . . and 

& , . CUT OFF HIS HEAD — 1 Sam. 17. 51. 

him that Saul had promised to give his 

daughter in marriage to the man who would kill the giant, but Eliab, 
his eldest brother, rebuked him for presuming to ask such a question and 
derided him the more when David expressed a willingness to stand before 
the mighty man in the name of the Lord. 

David’s desire to wage battle with Goliath was at length expressed 


before Saul, who, sending for him, and seeing his youth, advised him 


268 


David . . . Smote the Philistine . 


David offers to 
fight the giant. 


against matching his weakness against the strength of such a giant, 
who had been a warrior all his days. David, however, bade Saul to dismiss 
his fears, saying, that Jehovah, who had delivered him from the lion and the 
bear, would also protect him from the great Philistine. At 
this Saul told him to go, and prayed that Jehovah might 
be with him, besides arming him with his own weapons 
and armor. David started out to meet Goliath thus encumbered, but 
finding the armor too heavy he cast it aside and went forward clothed in 
his simple raiment and with no other weapon than a staff and sling, in 
the use of which he had made himself an expert while serving his father 
as a shepherd. As he went along he came to a little brook, from which 
he picked up five round stones and placed them in a pouch ready to his 
hand. 

When Goliath saw David coming to accept his challenge, he spoke 
Goliath makes scorn f u Hy> asking if he had come to fight as against a dog, 
sport of the seeing nothing in his hand but a staff, not being near enough 

stripling. to observe the sling ; but David replied as became a servant 

of God, in whom he relied for the victory, and ran swiftly toward his 
huge antagonist. When within the distance of a few yards David placed 
a stone in his sling, and, whirling it twice about his head, let fly the 
missile upon its certain errand. In another moment the two armies saw 
the mighty giant stagger and fall forward prone on his face. The stone, 
directed no doubt by God, was true to the aim, and went crashing through 
the giant’s forehead, and deep into his brain. David now ran fleetly to 
the body of his fallen foe, and jerking the dead man’s sword from its 
sheath, with a sweep of its keen blade cleft the head of Goliath from the 
body and held it aloft to show to both armies how he had vanquished 

the vain-boasting giant. 

At the dreadful sight 
of their champion fallen 
by the hand of a youth, 
the Philistines became 
panic stricken and fled 
with precipitation, 



Abner Brought Him Before Saul with the Head of the Philistine. 269 

pursued by the Israelites, as far as the gates of Gath and Ekron, who 
killed thirty thousand, and afterward returned to take the spoils of the 
abandoned camp. David took from the body of Goliath, as trophies of 
his conquest, the head, armor and sword of the giant. Goliath’s head 
was soon after publicly exhibited at Jerusalem, and the fame of David 
spread not only throughout Israel, but the neighboring countries as well, 
for such a valorous deed had never before been done. 



THE TOWER OF DAVID AT JERUSALEM. 



(270) AND AI V I, THE KINGS OF THE EARTH SOUGHT THE PRESENCE OF SOEOMON. — 2 Chron. 9. 23. 



CHAPTER XIV. 


And Saul set David over the men of war. 



liAVID’S valorous deed endeared him to Saul, who sent 
for him and learning that he was son of Jesse, the 
Betlilehemite, urged him to remain at court, where 
he was regarded with the affection of an adopted son. 
In his new position, whether as armor-bearer, as it 
is written, or an officer of his court, David demeaned 
himself so uprightly that Saul bestowed upon him 
lavish favors, while Jonathan, of whom I have already 
written, conceived for him the strongest friendship, 
which was further cemented by a covenant between them. 
This friendship was of the utmost consequeuce to David, as we shall 
presently see. 

It was not long after David entered the king’s service a second time 
that Saul became insanely jealous of the young warrior’s Sau| bccomcs 
fame, provoked chiefly by a song which was composed in jealous of David 
celebration of David’s victory over Goliath and which became and sceks his 

life* 

popular in everybody’s mouth. Saul first heard it sung by 
a body of Hebrew women who came out to serenade David with instru- 
ments to accompany their voices. All the words of this song are not 
given in the Bible, but among the applauding verses were these: 

“ Saul has slain his thousands .” 

To which the chorus responded in the full burst of praise : 

“ And David his ten thousands.” 

The fear of dethronement, according to Samuel’s prophecy, continually 
haunted Saul, so that he was suspicious of every one who became the 
subject of popular praise; and now that David had taken a place in the 
warmest affections of the people, Saul’s hatred of him became so violent 
that on the day after first hearing the song sung, while the two were 

(271) 


272 


I Will Give Him Her that She May he a Snare to Him . 



dining together, the king rose up suddenly and threw two spears at 
David, who only escaped being murdered by fleeing from Saul’s presence. 

In his saner moments the king realized how devotedly the Israelites 
loved David, and that to openly assassinate him might cause a revolt 
among the people, so he resolved to rid himself of the young man by 
secretly plotting his death. To disguise his schemes more effectually he 
sent for David and appointed him chief of a thousand men, at the same 

time offering to fulfill his 
promise to give him his 
daughter in marriage for 
having slain 
Goliath. But 
before celebrat- 
ing this prom- 
ise he expressed 
a desire that 
David would 
undertake new 
enterprises 
against his ene- 
mies, hoping 
that he would 
meet his death 
from some of the 
Philistines. All 
the things asked 

of him David performed, but when he returned to Saul he found that 
Merab, the daughter promised him, had been married to another during 
. his absence. But now the second daughter of Saul, Michal, 
to Saul’s became deeply enamored of David, who returned the love 

daughter. given him, and would have gladly espoused her at once; 

but Saul, still hoping to bring about his destruction, contrived to have 
his servants demand of David, as a dowery, the spoils of one hundred 
Philistines whom he should slaughter. These hard terms David readily 


I WIDE DELIVER THINE ENEMY INTO THINE HAND i Sam. 24. 4. 


SAUU HATH SIXAIN HIS THOUSANDS, AND DAVID HIS TUN THOUSANDS i Sam. 18 


•O 


-v 






m 

m 

m 



W3) 







274 Take Heed to Thyself, and Abide in a Secret Place. 


agreed to, and taking his army went into the Philistine country and 
engaged a body of the enemy in battle, in which he killed two hundred. 
Divesting the slain of their 
bloody garments, he brought the 
spoils and cast them at Saul’s 
feet. 

Though mad with jealousy 
and ambition, Saul still possessed 
some goodly traits, 
especially during inter- 




THEY ANOINTED DAVID KING OVER THE HOUSE OF JUDAH. 2 Sam. 2. 4. 


vals of calmness ; and it chanced that his reason was with him when David 
returned with the bloody spoils, so he gave his daughter Michal in mar- 
riage to David, but his enmity was in no wise abated. Michal, however, 


Saul Became David's Enemy Continually. 


275 



was a true and faithful wife, loving her husband above her father, upon 
which account, and also the friendship of Jonathan, which seemed to grow 
constantly stronger, Saul sought no longer to disguise his intentions, but 
gave a peremptory order to Jonathan and his courtiers to kill David. By 
a strategy of Jonathan, however, he contrived to restore David to Saul’s 
favor, but 
the reconcili- 
ation was of 
short dura- 
tion. The 
Philistines, 
though often 
beaten, were 
still strong 
enough to 
offer opposition to the 
Israelites, and there 
was, therefore, con- 
stant war between 
them, though of a 
desultory character. 

David undertook a 
new expedition against 
the enemy, who had 
appeared upon the 
borders of Judah, and 
gained a great victory, 
again applauded by 
creased Saul’s jeal- 
spear at David a third 
without avail. David now ran from the royal presence and hid in his 
own house, round which, however, Saul, intent upon his death, stationed 
a guard, with instructions to kill him when he should make his appear- 
ance in the morning. 


AND DAVID SENT ABNER 
AWAY ; AND HE WENT 
IN PEACE. — 2 Sam. 3. 21. 


for which he was 
the people. This so in- 
ousy that he cast his 
time, but, as before, 



276 


There was an Image in the Bed ) with a Pillow of Goafs Hair . 


It was now that the faithfulness of Michal was best shown, for in 
the night she aided her husband to escape by letting him down over 
the walls, and then, making a dummy, set it in bed, and sent messengers 
to Saul to tell him that David was sick. The deception was protracted 
long enough to enable David to make good his escape from Gibeah — the 



AND THEY BROUGHT THE 
HEAD OF ISH-BOSHETH 
UNTO DAVID.— 2 Sam. 4. 8. 

royal residence — and to reach 
Ramah, the home of Samuel. 
A strange thing now came to pass. 

There was a “ school of the prophets ” at 
Ramah, instituted to reform the priestly order and to prepare those received 
into the school for prophesying, or, more properly, no doubt, to prepare 
them for the ministry, somewhat after the manner of theological schools 
of to-day. At the head of this prophetic order was Samuel, whose quiet 
life had kept him from view since his anointment of David. 

It was not long after David’s escape that Saul learned of his presence 
in Ramah, and he sent his officers there to arrest him, but when they 
came to the school they were astonished to see the company of prophets, 


277 


Saul Cast a Javelin at Him to Smite Him. 

with Samuel as their instructor, all engaged in prophesying. The effect 

upon them was so great that they, too, fell to predicting, by the power 

of God. Saul, hearing how his messengers were converted, Sau , fa((s 
went himself to the school, but as he came to the well of at the feet 

Sechu, in the suburbs of Ramah, the Spirit of God also of Samuei. 

came upon him, and he, too, began to prophesy, and afterward came and 
fell at the feet of Samuel, acknowledging the goodness of the Lord. 

When Saul returned to Gibeah he told his kinsmen and the people 
that he was reconciled to David, and desired him to attend again at 
court. But this pretension was discredited by both Jonathan and David, 
who, however, resolved to test Saul’s sincerity, by first renewing the 
covenant of their friendship perpetually. 

The following day was the feast of the new moon, which was solemnly 
kept by the Israelites as a time for purification, but instead of appearing 
at the table at feasting time, David went and hid himself in a pile of 
stones called Ezel, near Saul’s residence, as Jonathan had directed him. 

Saul sat at the banquet with Abner, his chief officer, and Jonathan, 
but made no inquiry why David was absent, supposing that he had not 
yet purified himself. On the second day of the feast, however, Saul marvels 
finding that David continued to absent himself, Saul asked at David’s 

Jonathan the reason why he was not with them. To this absence, 

inquiry Jonathan replied that David had been invited to sacrifice that 
day with his kinsmen, in Bethlehem, having first asked his permission 
to go. At this Saul fell into a furious rage, and calling Jonathan a 
renegade, accused him of conniving with David against himself, and 
reminded him that while the rulership of Israel should rightfully descend 
to him as the lawful heir, yet he would never become king while David 
lived. He then ordered that David be brought to him that he might kill 
him. Jonathan attempted to remonstrate with his father upon the injus- 
tice of his motives, whereupon the enraged king hurled his spear at his 
son, and then left the table without partaking of any food. 

On the succeeding morning Jonathan, accompanied by a lad, went 
into a field where David was hiding, and began shooting arrows, which 
the bo}^ gathered up again. This was the sign to David that he should 


Give Me Five Loaves of Bread in Mine Hand . 


278 



flee for his life, but as he came out of hiding the two embraced and 
pledged anew their fidelity to each other. 

Being thus warned of his danger, David fled from Gibeah and went 

to the city of Nob, 
which belonged to 
the priests, and the 
place where the 
Tabernacle was 
preserved. As he 
approached alone, 
Ahimelech, the 
high-priest, saw 
him and was con- 
cerned for his 
safety, but David 
told him that he 
had come upon a 
commission f r o m 
Saul, and had ap- 
pointed servants to 
meet him at the 
next place. As his 
food was nearly 
exhausted he 
asked Ahimelech 
for five rolls of 
bread for himself 
and his imaginary 
servants. It 

TO SHEW FORTH . . THY FAITHFULNESS EVERY NIGHT. 

chanced that the 

priest had nothing but some loaves of stale shew-bread, but these he gave 
David, after first being assured that the receiver was undefiled, but the 
act was nevertheless against the law, though afterward justified by the 
Lord upon the ground of necessity. 


He Feigned Himself Mad . . . and Scrabbled on the Doors of the Gate. 279 



Before taking his departure from Ahimelech, David explained that 
the urgency of his mission had prevented him from taking any weapons, 
and he therefore asked the priest if he had a sword or a David takes the 
spear that he could give him. The priest replied that the sword of Goliath, 
sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom he had slain, was there, wrapped 
in a cloth behind the ephod (high-priest’s dress), 
and that if he wished he could take that, as he 
had no other. David was rejoiced 
at this information, and took the 
sword gladly, for he said there 
was none other like it. 

David tarried only 
a short time at Nob, and 
went quickly on to 
Gath, the former 
home of Goliath. 

Here his identity 
was discovered by j 
the Philistines, who f 
would have quickly I 
put him to death ; 
but upon being 
brought before 
King Achish he 
feigned idiocy so 
well that he was 
dismissed. Having no- 
where to lay his head, 
and with enemies on every side, 
as a last resort he now took 

IN THE MORNING SHAEE MY PRAYER PREVENT THEE. 

refuge in the caves that are so 

numerous on the borders of the great plains of Shefelah, near the Mediter- 
ranean Sea, and not far from Bethlehem. Being, as it were, outlawed 
himself, there were attracted to him the restless and lawless characters of 


28 o 


David Abode in the Wilderness , in Strongholds. 


the adjacent country, and in a short time he found himself the leader of 
a brave band of followers such as Jephthah was captain over before being 
called to deliver Israel. 

Having first provided a place of safety for his parents among the 
Moabites, who were his kinsmen through Ruth, his grandmother, David 
began a war of spoliation against the Philistines, though his 
Dav« d s band arm numbered only four hundred men, some of whom were 
his nearest relatives. His success was so remarkable, how- 
ever, that notwithstanding the smallness of his forces, the Philistine cities 
were in a state of anxiety lest he should attack them. The wonderful 
bravery of his warriors is illustrated by an incident recorded in the Bible, 
wherein David having expressed a wish for a drink of water from a well 
in Bethlehem, beside whose brink he had spent many hours of his youth, 
three of his devoted followers started at once to procure the longed-for 
water. Nothing daunting their desperate valor, they cut their way 
through the Philistine army, which was encamped in the Rephaim valley, 
and reached the well, which was by a gate of Bethlehem. Having pro- 
cured the water, they fought their way back, and in the pride of their 
renown gave the water to David to drink. The wonderful daring of this 
trio so affected David, however, that instead of drinking the water he 
poured it upon the ground as an offering to God, saying, “Shall I drink 
the blood of these men, that have put their lives in jeopardy?” 

While David and his men were hiding in the cave of Adullam they 
were joined by the prophet Gad and eleven other men under Amasai, 


who was the son of his sister Abigail. By Gad’s counsel 
David soon after left the cave and went into the forests of 
Hareth, among the hills of Judah, but he had tarried here 


Saul renews the 
hunt for David. 


only a short while when Saul heard of his presence and set out in per- 
son to effect his capture or death, having become distrustful of the men 
he had before sent against him. Repairing to a grove at Ramah, Saul 
called his army together there and harangued them upon their disloy- 
alty and endeavored to incite them to anger against David and Jonathan. 
This speech failed to elicit any response from the army, whose sympathies 
continued strong for the two exiles ; but there was an Edomite officer 


Why Have Ye Conspired Against Me , Thou and the Son of Jesse? 281 


named Doeg, who, we remember, was present, as a servant, at the meeting 
of David and the high-priest Ahimelech, when the latter had given bread 
and the sword of Goliath to David, and this Edomite now told Saul of 
the help which the high-priest had given to his enemy, artfully contriving 
to make it appear that Ahimelech had given succor to David out of 
sympathy for the latter’s conspiracy against the king. Ahimelech was 
therefore immedi- 
ately summoned to 
attend before Saul, 
charged with trea- 
son. The high- 
priest responded to 
the summons, and 
being confronted 
with the charge, told 
Saul that he was 
ignorant of David’s 
treason, but believ- 
ing him to have 
come as a loyal mes- 
s e n g e r from 
the king he 
had received 
and honored 
him as such 
and a 1 s o as 
Saul’s son-in- 

law, esteeming him worthy of the confidence bestowed. This protestation 
of innocence was not accepted by Saul, whose fury was so great that he 
ordered his soldiers to slay Ahimelech, together with all Ahimelech 
the priests of Nob. But his guards refused to execute the charged with 
cruel order, whereupon the same command being given to 
Doeg, who was a descendant of Esau, the infamous man slew eighty-five 
of the priests with his own hand. Besides this the entire city was given 





% 


AND THE KING SAID, THOU SHAI/T SUREEY DIE, AHIMEEECH. — i Sam. 22. 16. 


282 


He Came to the Sheepcotes by the Way, Where was a Cave . 

up to massacre, including men, women, children and every live thing that 
was in the place. x\biathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, alone escaped, 
and fleeing to David, told him of the slaughter. The news brought great 
sorrow to David, for he saw that it was the result of the deceit he had 
practiced upon Ahimelech. 

Having now with him the prophet of Gad, and also the rightful 
successor to the high-priesthood, David placed himself under the guidance 
David refuses °f the oracle of Jehovah, and marched against the Philistines, 
to revenge him- who were at the time besieging Keilali, and whom he speedily 
seif on Saul. overcame, after a great battle. Here David established him- 
self for a time, but being warned by the sacred ephod that the men of 
Keilah had conspired to deliver him up to Saul, he hastily left the place 
with his army, now numbering six hundred men, and fled to the wilder- 
ness of Ziph. It was here that Jonathan and David parted, after renewing 
their covenant of perpetual friendship, the former assuring David that he 
should yet become king over Israel, and expressing the hope that he himself 
would be next to him. Jonathan now returned to his own home, refusing 
to join his father, whose anger would have made such a step dangerous. 

The Ziphites, joined against David, betrayed his presence to Saul, 
who now left Gibeah and with his army and spies hunted him like a 
partridge over the hills of Judea. David fled again to the wilderness of 
Maon, in the extreme south, where he was pressed so closely by Saul that 
only a mountain separated them. When he had almost surrounded David, 
Saul was suddenly called away by the news of an invasion of the Philistines, 
but he soon after repelled the invaders, and with an army of three thousand 
men renewed his search for David, who had now fled to caves in the wilder- 
ness of Engedi. 

Saul sorely pressed David and his little band, who were compelled to 
flee from rock to rock like so many hunted goats. At length, as David had 
David cuts a taken refuge in a certain cave, Saul by chance entered alone, 
piece from not being aware however, that the place had been chosen as a 
Saul s cloak. retreat by hi s enem y. Being weary with the chase, Saul lay 
down by the mouth of the cave and fell asleep, and while thus resting he 
was discovered by David and his men. The opportunity for revenging 


Then David ... Cut Off the Skirt of SauPs Robe. 283 

himself upon the king - had now arrived, and he was therefore urged by 
his followers to slay him, but David contented himself with approaching 



DAVID AND HIS MEN WERE) IN THE WILDERNESS 
OF MAON.-j Sara. 23. 24. 

the unconscious monarch and cutting off a 
portion of his skirt. But even this insult to 
his king gave him much remorse, for when 
Saul had awakened and was going out of the 
cave, David ran after him, crying, “My father, 
lord, the king;” he then bowed down before 
him and, in a passionate burst of grief, pro- 
tested his innocence of any desire to harm 
him, and showed the skirt he had cut off as a 
proof that he had spared the king’s life. The appeal which David made 
to Saul touched his heart, and with that impulsive spirit so often before 


284 


And Saul Lifted up His Voice and Wept. 


exhibited, he replied, “Is this thy voice, my son David!” An interview 
now took place between the two, in which Saul acknowledged the mag- 
nanimity of David, and confessed the Divine decree which had called him 
to rule over Israel. After this interview Saul returned to Gibeah, but 
David would not trust himself to the whimsical caprices of his jealous 
father-in-law, and remained in his fastnesses. 

It -was not long after the parting between Saul and David in the 
cave of Engedi that Samuel died and was buried with great ceremony 
Israel mourns at Ramah, where he had spent the last several years of his 
the death of life. The mourning of Israel for this great man was long 
and bitter, but by none other was his death so greatly 
regretted as by David, who loved him, not only as his early preceptor 
and guide, but also because, up to the time of his death, he continued to 
exercise some restraint upon Saul, and whose advice was always in behalf 
of the anointed of God — himself. Anticipating a renewal of Saul’s jealous 
anger, David moved from his haunts in Engedi and retired into the 
wilderness of Paran, which was in the south. Here a singular adventure 
befel him, as we shall see. 

The chief city of Paran was called Maon, in which there lived a man 
named Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, who was possessed of great wealth. 
His flocks were so numerous that they covered all the surrounding hills ; 
but as the country was infested with robbers, he was much annoyed by 
thieves who thrived off his folds. 

David made his camp beside Maon, and having no other means of 
subsistence he volunteered to defend Nabal’s flocks for the few that 
would suffice for his food. Having performed this service well, David 
sent ten of his men to Nabal, during sheep-shearing time, with a polite 
request for a present of so many sheep as he might choose to give. 
Instead of generously responding to this very proper request, Nabal 
David is smitten returned a reply so insulting in its language and spirit 
by the beauty that David’s anger was aroused and he resolved to administer 

of Abigail. a severe punishment to the rich but avaricious churl. Ac- 
cordingly he took four hundred of his men to attack Nabal, leaving two 
hundred behind to protect the camp. But on his way he met Abigail, 


Nabal' s Heart was Merry . . . for He was Very Drunken. 285 


the wife of Nabal, who, having been informed of David’s request and 



also his threat to destroy her husband, had come to propitiate his anger 
by bringing an abundance of provisions, such as parched corn, bread, 
raisins, ready-dressed sheep, figs and wine in skins. When she had met 
David she pressed upon \ J him all the things thus 

brought and besought v | X, |J Kr him to spare her husband, 
acknowledging him as the future king of Israel 

and the power in the hand of Jehovah. Abigail 

' is represented as having been a very beautiful 


woman and of great 
that it is no matter 
she should find 
e 3^ e s , who gave 
presents, and 
with assurances 
sions of Na- 
be violated, 
gail’s return 
husband un- 


SHE FEED BEFORE DAVID AND 
BOWED HERSEEF TO THE GROUND. 
—1 Sam. 25. 23. 


intelligence, so 
of surprise that 
favor in David’s 
thanks for the 
sent her home 
that the posses- 
bal would not 
But upon Abi- 
she found her 
conscious from 


the deep potations of wine in which he had indulged, and it was not 
until morning that she could tell him of the evil her actions had averted. 
Nabal, however, though he recovered his senses, did not recover his 
strength, for his drunkenness produced a sickness from which he died 
ten days after the meeting of his wife with David. Upon hearing of the 
death of Nabal, David sent messengers to Abigail asking her to become 


286 David Sent and Communed with Abigail , to Take Her ... to Wife. 



his wife, for he was greatly moved by her beauty from the time of first 
beholding her. She seemed to have well understood the character of 
David and the future that had been predicted for him, for she sent a 
reply in which she declared her unworthiness to even touch his feet. But 
being pressed she came finally to David’s camp, with all her servants, 


and became his wife. Before his 
Abigail — how long before we are 
the circumstances explicitly re- 
Bible — David had married Ahi- 
reel, his first 


having been 
to Phalti, in 


marriage to 
not told, nor is 
lated in the 
noam, of Jez- 
wife Michal 
given by Saul 
the city of 
Gallim. 

After his 
marriage to 
Abigail, David 
left Paran and 
returned again to the wilderness 
of Ziph, but no sooner had he 
come into the country than some 
of the Ziphites made report of the 
fact to Saul, assuring him that 
his old enemy might now be easily 
caught. 

Upon learning that David was 
again among the Ziphites, having 
returned from ‘ Paran with fresh 
honors, Saul’s old jealousy and 
hatred were aroused, and gathering 
together three thousand men he marched rapidly toward the camp of David, 
and at night halted near him at a place called Hachilah. David, however, 
had been apprised of Saul’s coming, and sending out spies to watch, he thus 
discovered the king’s army encamped at Hachilah. As soon as he learned 
of the enemy’s proximity, he called Abishai, his nephew, and Ahimelech, 


ABIGAIL SENDS WINE TO DAVID. 


David Took the Spear and the Cruse of Water from SauPs Bolster. 287 



nanimity ; so he took Saul’s spear and the cruse of water that was beside 
him, and with these evidences of his daring he made his way out of the 
camp undiscovered by any of Saul’s army. When* he had passed well 
out of the camp and across a brook beside which the army lay, David 
cried out to the king and his guards until they were awakened, and then 


HE HELD A FEAST IN HIS HOUSE, LIKE THE FEAST OF A KING.— i Sam. 25. 36. 


a Hittite, and taking only these two with him he made his way secretly 
into Saul’s camp. Carefully approaching the royal tent he looked in 
and saw the king asleep, while about him lay his guards, who were also 
in profound slumber. Abishai desired to kill Saul as he lay sleeping, but 
David restrained him, desirous 
again of manifesting his 


288 Saul Said to David , Blessed be Thou My Son. 

reproached them for their want of vigilance. Abner, the commander of 
the guard, answering the cries, asked who it was that had called, to 
whom David replied : u It is I, the son of Jesse, whom you 

Saul impressed ma k e a va g a bond. But what is the matter? Dost thou 

by David’s , 

magnanimity. that art a man °f g rea t dignity, and of the first rank m the 

king’s court, take so little care of thy master’s body ? and 

is sleep of more consequence to thee than his preservation and thy care 
of him? This negligence of yours deserves death, and punishment to 
be inflicted on you, who never perceived when, a little while ago, some of 
us entered into your camp, nay, as far as to the king himself, and to all 
the rest of you. If thou look for the king’s spear and his cruse of 
water, thou wilt learn what a mighty misfortune was ready to overtake 
you in your very camp without your knowing it. 1 ’ 

Saul heard David thus talking aloud to the guard, and knowing it 
to be his voice, saw at once how he had been again in David’s power, 
but who had a second time so graciously spared his unworthy life ; so 
he rose up and went to speak with David, thanking him for his preser- 
vation, and assuring him that he would do him no harm now that he 
perceived David loved him better than he loved himself. Saul also 
begged David’s pardon for having so unjustly hunted him and made him 
an exile from his friends, returning his kindness with anger and injustice. 
David, seeing that Saul was humiliated, sent back the spear and cruse, 
after which the king returned to Gibeah, but David, still mistrustful of 
Saul’s jealousy, went away into the land of the Philistines, and with his 
six hundred men entered Gath, over which city Achish was still king. 

The ways of God are often mysterious, as we have already seen in 
the careers of David and Saul, both of whom were anointed by Samuel 
The wisdom of to ru ^ e over Israel. We may wonder why God’s forbearance 
the Lord is above with Saul was so great, or that He permitted David to be 
understanding. SQ ^ rea( jf u ]]y persecuted when He might have at once 
brought him into possession of the throne whereon he had been appointed 
to sit. But the end only shows a wisdom which man could never have 
exhibited. God’s purposes are always wise, and we will now soon 
see how His design was accomplished through the exercise of wholesome 


David . . . Passed Over with the Six Hundred Men with Him. 289 

examples that would prove of great benefit to David, and to all mankind 
as well. 

David’s second visit to xAchish was made under very different 
circumstances from those which brought him first before the king. He 
was now no longer the friendless outcast, driven to act the idiot in order 
to escape the penalty of having slain the Philistine champion, Goliath ; 
but a man of renown, whose army of six hundred might well be compared 
to the modern heroes of Balaklava. 

The Philistines had become so powerful that Saul gave them battle 
without great confidence in the result, and only when driven, by acts of 
invaders, to measure his strength with them. David knew this, and 
therefore, for his own protection, he sought Achish, who would respect 
him for Saul’s enmity. Soon after thus joining forces with the Philis- 
tines, David asked for a place of residence, and was given the frontier 
city of Ziklag. We now behold David in the role of a deceiver, whose 
actions are difficult to explain, though they are, no doubt, due to the 
mysterious ways in which Providence works, His wisdom to perform. 

In his wars with the Israelites, Achish expected that David would 
lend his assistance, since, though he was an Israelite himself, having 
craved the protection of a Philistine against his own people, 
it was proper to suppose he would prove loyal to his Dav,d s sm ,n 

deceiving 

benefactors. But David could not be an enemy to his race, Achish. 

for he loved his people, and believed that they would be 

true to him when Saul should be removed by the hand of God. Though 

cherishing these sentiments, David sought to deceive Achish, and 

committed a great sin in the manner in which this deception was carried 

out. 

David’s residence in Ziklag was only for a period of a few months, 
but during this time, being sent to battle with the Israelites, instead of 
engaging them, he privately attacked the Geshurites and Amalekites, 
neighbors and allies of the Philistines, and laid waste their country, took 
their cattle, camels, and spoils of whatever character he could find, and 
brought them to Achish, as possessions captured from the Israelites. To 
the more perfectly protect his deceit from being discovered by Achish, 


19 


290 The Lord Answered Him Not , Neither by Dreams , nor by Urim. 



“he put every one to the sword of those he attacked, so that none might 
be left to tell the true story. 

When David presented himself before Achish with an abundance of 
free gifts as the prey of his invasions, and being asked from whence the 
spoils had come he made answer that they had 
been taken from those tribes living in the south 
of Palestine, which were, of course, the Jews. 
Thus imposed upon, Achish placed unlimited con- 
fidence in David, as an enemy of Israel, and 
planned a campaign against the Israelites in which 
David was expected to aid him. Indeed, 
David had carried his deception so far 
that he boasted of the courage he would 
exhibit against his people, and 
which accident alone prevented 
him from proving. 

When Achish had resolved 
upon a war with Israel he 
sent orders throughout his 
realm and to his allies to arm 
themselves and assemble at 
R e gg an > from which place and 
rendezvous they would sud- 
denly attack their enemies and 
overwhelm them. David was 
also appealed to for aid, and he, 
quickly responding, made 
boasts that he would now repay the kind- 
when david came to zikeag, he sent ness and hospitality of the Philistine king- 
judah.— sam. 30. 26. A short time before this last declara- 

tion of war Saul had taken the most dreadful measures to rid the country 
of necromancers and fortune tellers, in accordance with God’s command 
that all those having a familiar spirit should be put to death. He caused 
a great many of those suspected, as well as those openly charged with 


When the Woman Saw Samuel She Cried with a Loud Voice. 291 

witchcraft, to be slain, until he believed there was not one remaining in 
his realm ; but he was soon to repent this decree, and to commit sacrilege 
by seeking for a witch for consultation. 

When the Philistines had gathered together in the valley of Jezreel, 
opposite the camp of Israel, Saul saw that their numbers were very great, 
so that he was sore distressed in mind being afraid to engage in battle 
lest he should be put to rout and his kingdom devastated. In the agony 
caused by his desperate situation he cried to God, but receiving no answer, 
he sent his messengers to inquire if there was not yet living a woman 
having a familiar spirit who could call up the dead, by which he hoped 
to learn the fate that was in store for him. One of the messengers soon 
returned and told him that there was such a woman in the Sau , cor , su | ts 
city of Endor, unknown to any that were in the camp. Upon the witch of 
receiving this news, he divested himself of his royal apparel, 
and taking his servants with him he repaired to the woman’s house. 
When he had come into her presence he entreated her to call up the soul 
of one that was dead whom he would name. She refused at first to exercise 
her art, telling him that the king had banished or slain all such of her 
kind, and that it ill became him to lay a snare by which she would be 
discovered and punished. Saul declared to her upon oath that he would 
tell no one and otherwise pleaded so hard that the witch at length con- 
sented to bring up the spirit of Samuel. After some incantations the 
woman saw, clairvoyantly, the spirit of a man whom she described as of 
venerable and divine aspect. But at this she showed great fear, and 
exclaimed, “Art not thou King Saul?” for the spirit of Samuel had so 
impressed her. Saul now admitted his identity and asked her to give 
him a better description of the spirit she saw, whereupon she told him it 
was the soul of one glorious in aspect, of extreme old age, and clad in a 
priestly mantle. By this description Saul perceived that it was the spirit 
of Samuel, and bowed himself low in an attitude of worship. Thc spirit of 
Samuel now spoke to him through the voice of the woman, Samuel appears 
commanding to know why he had been disturbed, to which to SauL 
Saul answered by saying that he was in great distress of mind by reason 
of the defiance and threatenings of his enemies ; that God had forsaken 


292 


The Lord Hath Rent the Kingdom Out of Thine Hand. 


him in his extremities, and that neither the medium of prophecy nor of 
dreams was longer available to discover to him the future, and hence he had 



come to consult the shade of his old friend who had taken care of him and 
had anointed him. Samuel answered Saul, as reported by Josephus, as 
follows: “It is in vain for thee to desire to learn of me anything further, 

when God hath 
forsaken thee ; 
however, hear 
what I say, that 
David is to be 
king, and to 
finish this war 
with good suc- 
cess ; and thou 
art to lose thy 
dominion and 
thy life, be- 
cause thou 
didst not obey 
God in the war 
with the Amal- 
ekites, and 
hast not kept 
his command- 
ments, as I 
foretold thee 
while I was 
alive. Know, 

therefore, that the people shall be made subject to their enemies, and 
that thou, with thy sons, shall fall in the battle to-morrow, and thou shalt 
then be with me [in Hades, signifying shade or deatJi\T 

When Saul heard this prophecy he fell down from grief and fear, 
and for a time appeared as one dead. His anxieties had caused him to 
abstain from food the foregoing day, which being discovered to the woman, 


AND THE; PRINCES OF The; PHILISTINES were; WROTH WITH HIM i Sam. 29. 4. 


Make This Fellow Return , That He May Go Again to His Place . 293 

she prepared some bread, and gave him meat of the only calf she pos- 
sessed, and after much persuasion induced him to sit at her table and eat. 
When he had finished he returned to his camp that night, so that none 
might know of his visit. 

In the assembling of the Philistine forces in the valley of Jezreel, 
Achish came to the place of rendezvous, accompanied by David and his 
six hundred men, last, and when the numbering of the army David prevented 
was begun, according to the custom of the time, it was dis- from fighting 
covered by some of Achish’s allies that David had enrolled h,s own P e °p« c - 
himself as a fighter against Israel. Many of the Philistines objected to 
trusting David in the battle, declaring that he would prove recreant in 
the most critical stage of the fight by becoming reconciled to Saul, as 
he had previously done. Achish tried to dispel their doubts of David’s 
loyalty, but being unable to do so the king sent him immediately away, 
telling him to return to Ziklag and preserve the place against threatened 
invasions, thus, by an accident, so to speak, preventing him from fighting 
against his own people. 

David had not proceeded far on his road to Ziklag, when he met a 
messenger who told him that the city had been laid waste by the 
Amalekites, who, not content with burning the place, had 

Ziklag acts as 

carried off all the women and children captives, among whom 0avid , s uide 
were David’s two wives. This sad news so oppressed David 
that he rent his clothes and would have wept, but that his heart was so 
oppressed, grief had dried his tears. His soldiers were no less affected, 
and blaming him for their misfortune, were upon the point of stoning 
him to death. At this, David raised his voice to Jehovah, and calling to 
Abiathar, the high-priest, bade him inquire of God, by the sacred ephod, 
if he should pursue after the Amalekites. The oracle being favorable, 
David set out on the march at once, accompanied by his following of six 
hundred men. As he came to the brook of Besor, he met an Egyptian 
who was wandering about almost dead of hunger. After David had 
given him food, he inquired of the man the cause of his misfortune. 
The Egyptian replied that he had been with his master at the pillage 
of Ziklag, but having been sick he was unable to follow his master, 


294 David Recovered All That the Amale kites Had Carried Away . 

and was left behind to care for himself. David refreshed the man 
so that he was able to travel, and used him as a guide to find the 
Amalekites. He came up with the enemy as they lay scattered on the 
ground feasting and drinking off the spoils taken at Ziklag, and made 
such a sudden attack on them that they were all slaughtered except four 
hundred, who escaped on the camels. David thus recovered everything that 
had been taken from Ziklag, including the men, women and children 
carried away captives, among whom were his two wives, and returned in 
triumph to his own city. 

While David was pursuing the Amalekites, a great thing had hap- 
pened to Saul and his followers, by which the last barrier was removed 



KN-GANNIM — MOUNTAINS OF GII.BOA IN THK 
DISTANCF.-i Sam. 31. 1. 


between David and the throne. Notwithstanding the woeful prophecy of 
the spirit of Samuel, Saul, though feeling that his doom was impending, 
went out to meet the enemy that was marshaled in Jezreel valley. He 
had moved his army to the mountain of Gilboa before seeking an inter- 
Saui’s last battle v * ew with the witch of Endor, and having returned oppressed 
in the valley with the forecast of his own destruction he seems to have 
of jezreei. g rown reckless under the knowledge that nothing could 
now avail him. He therefore marched down to the valley of Jezreel and 
engaged the host of Philistines, whose forces greatly exceeded his own. 
The battle raged furiously for some hours, when at length the Israelites 
gave way and retreated up the mountain closely pressed by the Philis- 


Draw Thy Sword and Thrust Me Through Therewith. 


295 


Suicide of Saul. 


tines, who slaughtered them in vast numbers and without mercy. But 
none fought more valorously on that day than Saul and his three sons, 
Jonathan, Melchisua and Abinadab, who fell one after another round their 
father and king, esteeming death an honor in defence of Israel. At last, 
wounded by a score of arrows, until further defence was impossible, when 
his mighty arm had become palsied through the exertion of hewing down 
his enemies, and the loss of blood, Saul commanded his armor-bearer to 
pierce him through with his sword, that it might not be said he had 
perished at the hands of the Philistines. The armor-bearer, however, 
was afraid to raise his hand against his master, whereupon Saul took his 
sword, and placing the point to his breast fell upon it, but not being able 
to force it through his armor he called to a young man who was near, 
and who chanced to be an Amalekite, to slay him, which he 
accordingly did. Thus miserably perished one of Israel’s 
greatest warriors who, had he obeyed God in all things, might have 
become the most renowned character of Jewish history. 

The young man who had killed Saul took his golden bracelet and the 
royal crown that was upon his head and fled away with them, afterward 
bearing the news of Saul’s overthrow to David and delivering up to him 
the bracelet and crown, as a proof that he told what was true. 

After the battle was over, and all the Israelites engaged therein had 
been slain, the Philistines went over the field to gather up the spoils that 
had been, left as it was customary to strip the dead bodies of all enemies. 
While thus engaged they came upon the corpses of 
Saul and his three sons, whom they stripped, and 
then cutting off their heads, carried their bodies 
and hung them on crosses on the walls of 
Bethshan, and dedicated their armor in the 
heathen temple of Ashtaroth. The cities of 
the Israelites that 
were in the dis- 
trict of Judea 
were hastily 

abandoned in fear death of saul. 




the death of Saul more sincerely mourned than by David, who, though 
persecuted and outrageously wronged by the king, looked upon him still 
as one of God’s anointed. But for Jonathan, David’s grief was yet greater, 
and the overwhelming sorrow which now bowed him down found expression 
in a Jeremiade that is justly celebrated as one of the most exquisite 
poems of any age, Saul’s reign, as the first king of Israel, was for a 
period of forty years, eighteen years during the life of Samuel, and 
twenty-two years after that great prophet’s death. 


296 They Mourned , and Wept , and Fasted Until Even, for Saul . 

of the Philistines, but some of the most courageous inhabitants of Jabesh- 
gilead, having heard of the indignity done to the bodies of Saul and 
Saul’s head is his sons, journeyed all night and secretly came to Bethshan, 
cut off and hung and recovering the bodies, took them to their city and 
on the wails. buried them under a tree at Jabesh. The funeral rites 
were conducted with great ceremony, befitting a king whose death they 
lamented, and a public fast was observed for seven days. By none was 


AND WHEN HIS ARMOR-BEARER SAW THAT SAUE WAS DEAD, HE FEEE LIKEWISE UPON HIS 
SWORD, AND DIED WITH HIM.— 1 Sam. 31. 5. 


CHAPTER XV. 


And they anointed David king over Israel. 


HE overthrow of Saul was followed by other 
victories by the Philistines, until they had 
made themselves masters of all that region 
west of the Jordan, which was the richest por- 
tion of Palestine. All the Israelites fled to 
the east of Jordan, and soon afterward made 
David their king at Hebron, where he ruled 
for a period of seven years ; but not in peace, 
for Abner, SauPs general, was so jealous of David that he fomented a 
division in Israel by proclaiming Ish-bosheth, Saul’s only surviving son, 
king of Gilead, and nominally over all Judea, whose seat of government 
was at Mahan aim, which was also east of Jordan. Abner attempted to 
enforce his proclamation not only upon those east of the Jordan, but 
sought to extend Ish-bosheth’s power on the west side as well, and a 
civil war followed which continued with varying results for about five 
years. 

Abner raised a considerable army and marched upon Gibeon, where 
he was met by an opposing force under Joab, who was the son of David’s 
sister, Zeruiah. The two armies encamped on opposite sides of the Pool 
of Gibeon, where, both being reluctant to hazard battle, it was agreed that 
twelve soldiers selected from each side should engage each other, and the 
result of the contest should decide which army had the more valiant men. 
Accordingly, twelve Benjaminites went out to meet twelve men of Judah, 
and they fell upon each other at a place equidistant between the two 
armies. The combat was a fearful one and fatal to all of the contestants. 
When they came together it was in pairs, each man seizing his adversary 

(297) 



298 


They Caught Every One His Fellow by the Head . 



beaten, and re- 
soldiers to do their 
enemies. In the 
Asahel , whose 
of a horse. His 


by the hair and plunged his sword into his enemy’s body until the twenty- 
The most furious four champions lay dead upon the field. The fight there- 
duei of history. f ore no t determining the question at issue, the two armies 
became engaged and fought with great fury until Abner’s men were 

treated, followed by Joab, who incited his 
utmost to destroy every man of their 
army of Joab was his younger brother 
fleetness of foot it is said exceeded that 
valor was equal to his swiftness, and 
he pursued after Abner to take his 
life. The race was a strong one and 
continued for a 
great distance, 
with Asahel 
constantly 
gaining on his 
foe. Seeing 
that he was 
about to be 
overtaken Ab- 
ner begged As- 
ahel to turn 
back lest he 
should be 
and thereafter 
brother Joab in 
had no mind to 
but continued 
within a spear’s 
turned sud- 
denly upon Asahel and cast his javelin into his body, killing him upon 
the instant. Joab seeing his brother fall, pressed on with his other brother, 
Abishai, after Abner until it was sunset, and they had come to a place 
called Ammah. Here Abner contrived to talk with Joab, and to persuade 


forced to slay him 
not be able to look his ? 

the face. But Asahel 

I 

give over the pursuit, 

to press Abner until three mighty men brake through . . . 

AND DREW WATER OUT OF THE WEU,.— 

throw, when the latter 2Sam - 2 3- 16. 


There was a Long War Between the House of Saul arid ... of David. 299 

liim to give over the pursuit by telling him that it was not right that 
men of the same nation should fight against each other, and by declaring 
that the death of Asahel was due to his own fury and folly. 

When the pursuit had been abandoned, Joab camped with his army 
at Arnmah, while during the night Abner drew off his forces and marched 
across the Jordan to Mahanain, where Ish-bosheth lived. In the morning 
Joab took account of the slain, finding that there had fallen three hun- 
dred and sixty of Abner’s men, but only nineteen of David’s. He buried 
all the dead on the field except the body of Asahel, which he carried to 
Bethlehem and deposited in the sepulchre of his relatives. 

The battle at Gibeon was only the beginning of long protracted 
internecine strife, in which the power of David gradually increased, while 
that of Saul’s son, the pretender, as surely diminished, joab a mighty 
David did not lead his army in these conflicts, trusting the soldier, 
execution of his plans to Joab, in whom he reposed the greatest con- 
fidence. 

About this time, or three years after he had been proclaimed king 
at Hebron, David had become the father of six sons by as many mothers. 
The eldest of these was by his first wife Ahinoam, and was named 
Ammon; the second was by his wife Abigail, and called Chileab; the 
third was Absalom, by his wife Maacah, who was the daughter of Talmai, 
king of Geshur; the fourth he named Adonijah, by his wife Haggith; 
the fifth was called Shephatiah, by Abital, and the sixth was Ithream, by 
Eglah. 

The increasing strength of David so alarmed Abner, whose course 
had been that of a traitor to the lawful king by God’s appointment, that 
he determined to gain his favor before a final victory might place him 
within David’s power. Accordingly, he sent overtures to David, first 
reciting some of the insults he had received from Ish-bosheth, and prof- 
fering his aid to the establishing of his undisputed power over all Judah. 
Before agreeing to treat with him David required of him first to restore 
his wife Michal, whom Saul had given to Phaltiel, as already explained. 
This Abner succeeded in doing through an order from Ish-bosheth, and 
then treated with the elders of Israel, through whom he persuaded the 



ment; so that when he departed it was with an expressed resolution to 
gather all Israel to David’s standard. 

Abner had not gone above a few miles from Hebron when Joab 
returned to the city from a successful expedition against some foraging 
Bedouins, and learning that David had treated with him as a friend, was 
so enraged in his remembrance of the death of Asahel that he sent mes- 
sengers in the name of David to tell x\bner to return, as he had some 
more important matters to consult with him about. Abner, suspecting 


300 David Made Abner and the Men that were with Him a Feast. 

tribe of Benjamin to acknowledge David, because of his designation by 
Jehovah and of his services against the Philistines. 

So well did his league with David succeed that he determined upon 
going in person to Hebron, accompanied b}^ a guard of only twenty men, 
to pay his homage to the lawful king. He was received by David with 
every mark of respect and consideration, being feasted with all the good 
things that could be found, and honored with great promises of prefer- 


I WIDE BRING EVII. UPON THEE, AND WH.L TAKE AWAY THY POSTERITY 1 Kings 21. 21. 


Joab and Abishai Slew Abner Because He had Slain Their Brother. 301 


David laments 
for Abner. 


nothing wrong, rode back to Hebron, but was met at the gate by Joab, 
who received him with evidence of much kindness. Upon the pretence 
of a desire to speak with him secretly, Joab and Abishai led The trcachc r - 
Abner apart from his guard behind a gate, where they ous murder of 
foully murdered him. Josephus tells us that this treacherous Abncr * 
act was committed by Joab, not because of revenge for Asahel’s death, but 
because he feared that Abner would supplant him in the favor of David 
and become the king’s chief officer. 

When David learned of the assassination of Abner he was exceedingly 
grieved, not so much for the loss of a new ally, who would be of great 
service in establishing the kingdom, as because his honor had been com- 
promised by the act ; for Abner was ostensibly under the 
royal protection and had been promised the king’s favor. To 
relieve any impression that might obtain that he secretly 
sanctioned the murder, David called all his people as witnesses and appealed 
to God for an affirmation of his condemnation of the act. He also called 
down curses upon those who committed the crime, and then ordered that 
there be a public lamentation for the dead and the body be accorded all 
the honor due to one occupying an exalted station. As a still further 
evidence of his extreme sorrow, David put on sackcloth and followed the 
bier, with all the elders and rulers of his kingdom, and had the remains 
deposited in a magnificent sepulchre in Hebron, over which he indited 
funeral elegies. The sorrow and respect manifested by David procured for 
him the favor of the people, particularly those who had joined their fortunes 
to Saul’s son, and the affair therefore did great credit to David’s judgment, 
for it gave him the confidence of those who had been his enemies and did 
more toward establishing his kingdom over all Judah than a hundred 
great victories in war would have done. David would have gone further, 
and requited the murder, except that this power was wanting ; for he says, 
“ God, who hath regard to all men’s actions, will not suffer this man 
(Joab) to go off unrevenged ; know ye, that I am not able to do anything 
to these sons of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, who have more power than I 
have; but God will requite their insolent attempts upon their own 
heads.” 



302 He Lay on His Bed . . . and They Smote Him and Slew Him. 


The sad death of Abner affected Ish-bosheth quite as much as it did 
David, for he did not know how Abner had made a league with David to 
depose him, or anything that had caused Abner to visit Hebron. But he 
did not long survive his chief officer, nor was his death any less horrible 

and untimely. The change of 
public feeling in Manhanaim had 
been very rapid from 
the time that Abner 
had advised the elders 
of the Benjamin- 
ites to accept 
David as king, 
and after his 
death the eager- 
ness to abandon 
the failing for- 
tune of Ish-bos- 

I'T heth and secure 

\ <. s 

the favor of David 
was so great than 
two sons of Rim- 
mon, Baanah and 
Rechab, resolved 
to murder the 
king with the ex- 
pectation that 
David would re- 

AND HE SAID UNTO HIM . . . THOU SHAI/T - 

not come down off that bed . . . but ward the deed by 

SHAI/r SUREEY DIE —2 Kings 1. 16. , 

bestowing upon 

them some rich present or offices of preferment. Being captains in Ish- 
bosheth’s army they had free access to the royal presence, and one sultry 
mid-day, finding him alone and asleep in an upper room, they cut off his 
head, and making their escape, traveled all night until they came to 
Hebron. Here they procured an audience with David to whom they 


King David Made a League with Them in Hebron. 


3°3 


presented the ghastly trophy of their villainous deed, explaining at the 
same time how they had killed his enemy. 

Instead of fulfilling the wishes and expectations of the murderers, 
David at once ordered that they be tortured and afterward put to death for 
the crime of murder, and also for offending his own honor with the infamy 
of their proposals. Accordingly, their heads, and feet and hands were 
cut off, and their bodies hanged over the Pool of Hebron, while the head 
of Ish-bosheth was deposited in the sepulchre with Abner, after appro- 
priate rites had been bestowed upon it. 

All the things which David had done out of respect to Abner and 
Ish-bosheth so increased his popularity among all the Israelites that there 
was now a general consent to accept him as the ruler of United Israel. 
The armies that had before been in revolt against him began, Dav{d is 
one after another, to come to Hebron with their arms and crowned king 
lay them at his feet in acknowledgment of his sovereignty. ofaM ,sracl * 
Seeing the disposition that was everywhere manifest, David feasted and 
otherwise kindly treated those who first came to him, and sent them away 
to invite all other tribes to visit him. Accordingly, there now came all 
the legions of Israel, enumerated by Josephus as follows : 6,800 of the 
tribe of Judah, who had served under Saul’s son; 7,100 of the tribe of 
Simeon ; 4,700 of the tribe of Levi ; and after these came Zadok, the high- 
priest, with 22 captains of his kindred; 4,000 out of the tribe of Benjamin, 
though many others of this tribe refused to acknowledge David, expect- 
ing a new ruler from the house of Saul to succeed Ish-bosheth ; of the 
tribe of Ephraim there were 20,800, all mighty men of great valor and 
eminent for strength; of the half tribe of Manasseh came 18,000 of the 
most potent men ; of the tribe of Issachar there came 200 who were gifted 
with the foreknowledge of events and 20,000 warriors ; of the tribe of 
Zebulun were 50,000 chosen men, which was the only tribe that came 
universally to acknowledge David ; of the tribe of Naphtali there came 
1,000 eminent men and rulers, besides 37,000 others of the tribe; of the 
tribe of Dan there were 27,600, and of the tribe of Asher there were 40,000. 
Besides these came those from the two tribes east of the Jordan (Reuben 
and Gad), and of the tribe of Manasseh, who used shields, spears and 


304 David Took the Stronghold of Zion . . . the City of David . 



swords, 120,000, making a total of 357,200 armed men. All these came 
together at Hebron to David, bringing vast quantities of corn, wine and 
other fruits as offerings to their king, and here David was 
^Jerusalem 86 crowne d king of Israel, after which event there was a great 
feast and rejoicing for a period of three days. Finding him- 
self now strong in the affections of his people, and at the head of an army 

almost invincible by reason of its 
vast numbers and unison of sym- 
pathy and purpose, David resolved 
to change the seat of gov- 
ernment from Hebron to a 
city more central and 
more accessible to the 
commerce of the sev- 
eral tribes, while at 
the same time other 
necessary advantages, 
in case of war, were 
not overlooked. It is 
but natural that his 
choice should fall on 
Jerusalem, which was 
the largest and strong- 
est city in all Philis- 
tine, but in the posses- 
sion of the Jebusites. 
In the days of Joshua 
the advantages of Jerusalem had been well under- 
stood, and at that time a desperate attempt was 
made to capture the place. That portion of the town situate in the valley 
had surrendered to Joshua, but the city proper, that was built upon a hill, 
resisted all the efforts of the mighty men of Judah, and had continued in 
the hands of the Jebusites. David marched at the head of his army against 
the great city of Jerusalem with composure and confidence in his ability to 


JONATHAN THK SON OF SHIMFA 
SLEW HIM — 1 Chron. 20. 7. 


David Smote the Philistines and Subdued Them . 305 

effect its capture, notwithstanding its reputed impregnability ; his confidence, 
indeed, exceeded that of proper discretion, as the circumstances afterward 
proved. He directed his first attack against the lower city, which, being 
feebly garrisoned and slightly protected, soon capitulated; but the citadel 
on top of the hill held out and repulsed so many attempts to scale the walls 
that, at length, in derision of David’s efforts, the Jebusites manned the 
walls with those that were sick, lame and blind, shouting to the besiegers that 
these were sufficient to overcome the Israelites. Infuriated by these taunts, 
David encouraged his army to superhuman exertions by the offer of large 
rewards, but all to no purpose, until he finally proffered the command of 
his entire army to the one who would first pass the ditches and ascend 
over the wall. This offer was so tempting that many hundreds tried with 
reckless desperation to win the honor and distinction, but were sent, one 
after another, headlong back from the walls, till the ditches were nearly 
choked, and certain death appeared to wait on all who made 
the effort. There was one, however, whom fortune favored, vaiorof joab. 
who managed to guard against the shafts flung at him, and 
by prodigious effort and valor finally gained the citadel, and standing 
aloft on the walls claimed the command as had been promised. This 
great warrior was Joab, who had dishonored David by the murder of 
Abner, and upon whom now fell the office of chief commandant of Israel. 
He was soon followed by other brave men, and a breach being effected 
the army poured into the city and put the Jebusites to the sword. This 
was the first capture of Jerusalem, effected after a fight scarcely less des- 
perate than that which took place more than two thousand years after- 
ward, when Saladin, the Moslem conqueror, wrested the city from the 
Christians after a siege of twelve days. 

The attack upon and sack of Jerusalem by the Israelites so nearly 
destroyed the city, or left it in such confusion, that when David had made 
himself secure he set about repairing and rebuilding the 
place, and changed its name to that of The City of David , 
for it was his desire to rule here all the days of his life. 

David was thirty years of age when first proclaimed king and his rule 
at Hebron was for a period of seven and one-half years, so that at the 


20 


3°6 


David Built Round About from Mills and Inward. 



time of the capture of Jerusalem he was still a comparatively young man, 
but he had long before proved the possession of remarkable resource, both 
in conception and execution, in civil and military affairs. In the rebuild- 
ing of Jerusalem, he again manifested the great sagacity and craft with 
which he was endowed. Understanding the importance of perfect defences 
to the lower portion of the city, which previous 
occupants had utterly failed to con- 
sider, he caused a strong wall to be 
built around it, and so arranged the 
building that there was a safe connec- 
tion between the lower city and the 


THE SYRIANS BECAME DAVID’S SERVANTS, AND BROUGHT GIFTS. — 1 Chron. 18. 6. 


citadel, thus making it a compact city, where, before, the lower portion, 
being detached and ill-defended, served as a lodgment for an enemy who, 
by occupying it, could be safely housed for a siege against the citadel, or 
upper city. 

Five hundred and fifteen years had elapsed since Joshua divided the 
land among the twelve tribes, and in all this time Jerusalem (formerly 
called Salem, before the days of Melchizedec, and after Abraham Jireh- 



And David Took Him More Concubines and IVives. 307 

Salem, hence its present designation, meaning, “ the Lord will see and 
provide”) had remained in the possession of the Canaanites until David, 
strengthened by God, effected its capture. The consequence R CS uitsofthe 
of this triumph did not terminate with the mere possession of capture of 
the city, but its influence was wide-extending and had the J erusa,em * 
happiest effect of largely increasing David’s power. Tyre was a kingdom 
adjoining Palestine on the west, and was ruled over at the time by the 
most powerful potentate of the then known world, whose name was Hiram. 
This king had carried terror among all the nations with whom he was 
ever engaged in war, but the capture of Jerusalem, regarded for so many 
centuries as being absolutely impregnable, spread the fame of David so 
greatly that Hiram immediately desired him for an ally. He accordingly 
sent ambassadors to the new city of David, and made a league of mutual 
friendship with the Israelites, by which the power of David was so strength- 
ened that no nation now dared to incur his ill-will. 

The possession of great power almost invariably reacts dangerously 
upon the possessor, since it promotes vanity and undue exaltation that 
prompt to the most extravagant conceits and follies, leading 
finally to disaster. So it proved with David ; though a man ™ tS 

of excellent judgment, when great responsibility required its 
exercise, the enlargement of his powers and the security of his present 
situation caused him to become careless of his honor and dignity, and he 
abandoned himself to the lowest craving of his nature. 

Though already married to six wives, which was apparently no sin, 
as polygamy was then general, David established a very harem, which he 
filled with concubines, to whose dalliances he devoted his time to the 
neglect of his royal duties and his respect for God’s laws. How many 
wives he had we are not told, for he took many others besides the six 
already mentioned, and by whom he had nine more sons, named respec- 
tively, Amnon, Emnos, Ebon, Nathan, Solomon, Jeban, Elien, Phalna and 
Emnaphen. By his concubines he had two sons, named Eliphal$t and 
Jenai. Afterward he took other wives and ten more concubines, who bore 
him as many sons. David’s excesses brought upon him the anger of God, 
who surrounded him with enemies that he might be brought to realize 


308 They Smote the Host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gaza. 

the sinfulness of his living. The manner in which he was punished will 
appear hereafter. 

Some time after David had been proclaimed king of all Israel and 
had fallen somewhat into disrepute by reason of his immorality, the 
The Philistines Philistines gathered together a great army, and came to 
war again with attack him at Jerusalem. They took possession of the 

David. Valley of the Giants, which is near the city, and there 
pitched their tents to prepare for a siege. David, somewhat fearful of 
the result, now realizing the wickedness of his conduct, prayed to Jehovah 
for forgiveness ; but not being sure that his prayer would be heard, com- 
manded the high-priest to foretell the will of God, and what would be the 
result of the battle. Jehovah, though offended, did not abandon David, 
but promised to give him the victory. The fight soon took place, in which 
David came upon the Philistines by ambush, and defeated them with small 
loss to himself. But though the Philistines retreated without showing any 
courage, they speedily reorganized, and securing help from Syria, Phoenicia 
and other nations, they raised an army three times greater than that of 
David, and pitched their camp, as before, in the Valley of the Giants. Being 
again in doubt as to the issue of the battle, David prayed to God as before, 
and also sent the high-priest to inquire whether Jehovah would give him 
the victory. 

The prophecy was again favorable, but he was directed to assemble 
his army in a grove near the enemy’s camp, called the Grove of Weep- 
ing, and not to sally out from this ambush until a wind should spring 
up and disturb the trees. David repaired to the place designated and there 
remained with his army until he perceived the trees bending under pressure 
of a strong wind ; he now rushed out and fell upon the enemy with such 
suddenness and impetuosity that they retreated with scarcely a show of 
resistance. The Israelites pursued them for several da}7S, slaughtering 
great numbers, until the Philistines were driven to Gaza, by the sea, 
which was the limit of their country. 

The decisive victories which David had gained over his enemies made 
him desirous of manifesting thanks to God, of proving his disposition to 
do that which was holy instead of following in evil ways; therefore, after 


David Gathered All Israel Together to Jerusalem. 


309 



the ark to 
Jerusalem. 


despoiling the Philistines of their riches and breaking their idols, he re- 
turned to his city, and selecting a large number of soldiers from the 
flower of his army, and taking many priests and Levites, David brings up 
he set out to bring the ark, which had for several years, indeed 
since its restoration by the Philistines, rested at Kirjath- 
jearim with the family of Abinadab, to Jerusalem, that he might sacrifice 
to it as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence. Accordingly, this new army 
proceeded to Kirjath-jearim, and 
bringing out the ark, they 
put it upon a cart and both 
cart and oxen 
started drawing it 
toward Jerusalem. 

Before the ark 
marched David 
and a great mul- 
titude, singing 
hymns to God and 
playing musical 
instruments. As 
the procession 

reached a place the i<ord . . . smote him, bfcause he put 

HIS HAND TO THE ARK.-i Chron. 13, xo. 

called Chidon, 

where there was a threshing floor, a singular and 
melancholy accident occurred, by which Jehovah’s presence was manifested. 
In passing over some rough ground the cart was all but upset, and to 
save the ark from such a catastrophe a man named Uzzah put out his 
hand to save it, when on the instant he was struck dead. This was 
in accordance with the law, by which any person, save that of a priest, 
who might touch the ark should perish for his rashness. 

It seems most probable that this expression is a correct one, for 
David evidently so construed it. He was much frightened by Uzzah’s 
singular death, and bade the people leave the ark at the house of a 
righteous man named Obed-edom, where it remained for three months, 


3io Michal , . . . Looking Out at a Window , saw King David Dancing. 


possession 
of the ark. 


and until David could arrange to have it transported to Jerusalem in a 
manner which he thought would please God. 

During the time that the ark was in the keeping of Obed-edom it 
brought to him many blessings, elevating him from a position of extreme 
Blessings follow poverty to one of competence and happiness. When the time 
arrived for its removal, David, who now perceived that the 
ark was calculated to increase the prosperity of its keeper, 
repaired to the house of Obed-edom with many priests, who took it upon 
their shoulders and again started for Jerusalem, preceded by seven com- 
panies of singers, while David himself played upon a harp and manifested 
exuberant joy. His demonstration excited the derision of his wife Michal, 
Saul’s daughter, who afterward wished him all possible happiness, but 
could not refrain from taxing him with unseemly actions in dancing and 
uncovering himself before the multitude. 

The ark was brought in safety to Jerusalem, and deposited in a taber- 
nacle which David had prepared as its depository, after which he offered 
costly sacrifices and peace-offerings, and gave to each of the great number 
who rejoiced with him a loaf of bread and two cakes, together with por- 
tions of the sacrifice. 

After the removal of the ark to Jerusalem David prospered in all things, 
giving the credit to Jehovah’s presence, who was now always with him. 
David prose- This success made him anxious to prove his worthiness and 
cutes a war appreciation, to do which he resolved to build a more worthy 

for spoils. repository for the sacred object than the tent in which it 

was kept. He mentioned this intention to the prophet Nathan, by whom 
the project was highly commended; but during the same night Jehovah 
came to Nathan in a dream, commanding him to tell David to forego 
this intention, as he should first establish his kingdom and leave to his 
son, who would be chosen to rule hereafter, the duty of providing a suitable 
house for the ark. 

David contented himself with what God had ordered through Nathan, 
and then set about extending his kingdom, to conducting a war of subjuga- 
tion and for spoils. He now attacked the Philistines and captured their 
chief frontier city, Gath, and continued driving his enemies until he had 


He Smote Moab; and the Moabites Became David's Servants. 31 1 



made himself master of all of southern Palestine to the “ river of Egypt.” 
He next turned toward the eastern frontier and overran Moab, two-thirds 
of whose people he ordered put to death, and the remainder laid under 

tribute. This vengeance on 
the part of David is unac- 
counted for, and can scarcely 
be credited, since it was 
to the Moabites he com- 
mitted the care of his 


father and 
mother when 
he was first 
forced to flee 
from Saul, as 
already related. 

There is an old 
Jewish tradi- 
tion to the effect 
that his parents were mur- 
dered by the Moabites, but 
there is no record of the crime 
in the Scriptures. 

After subjugating Moab 
David advanced toward the 
northeast, intending to ex- 
tend his kingdom to the river Euphrates. Two Syrian nations lay between 
him and the river, one of which was ruled by Hadadezer, and the other 
by Hadad. He engaged the former near the Euphrates and speedily 


MICHAL, THE DAUGHTER OF SAUE . . SAW KING DAVID 
DANCING AND PLAYING.— i Chron.-i5. 29. 


2,12 


Mephiboslieth 


Shall Eat Bread Always at My Table. 


Terrible defeat 
of Hadadezer. 


overthrew him, destroying twenty thousand of his foot soldiers, seven 
thousand horsemen, and took one thousand chariots, one hundred of the 
finest of which he reserved for his own use. 

Hadad, king of Damascus, hearing of Hadadezer’s defeat, 
who was his ally, raised a powerful army, and marched quickly 
to his friend’s aid, coming up with David also besides the Euphrates. 
Here another great battle was fought, but with no less decisive results 
for David, who slew twenty thousand of Hadad’s army and put the rest 
to flight. 

These victims were followed by alliances with Toi, king of Hamath, 
and a renewal of the treaty with Hiram, so that David now held possession 
of nearly all of Palestine, besides gaining enormous spoils of gold, silver, 
jewels, arms, and everything that had been used by those with whom he 
fought. A portion of the plunder thus taken was dedicated to the service 
and building of the future temple. 

In the hour of David’s greatness he did not forget the memory of his 
dead friend Jonathan, to whom he had been joined in his early years with 
ties stronger than those of brotherhood. In the hours of his 
Jonathans son. reflection he remembered the covenant he made with Jonathan, 
and the desire came upon him to know if any of his friend’s 
children were yet living, that he might show a kindness to them according 
to his promise. He therefore sent for a man who had been a servant to 
Saul, of whom he made inquiry concerning Jonathan’s children. The 
servant told him that there was one child of his friend yet living, who 
was a cripple, having received his injuries by being dropped from his 
nurse’s arms on the day of his father’s death. David immediately sent 
for the young man, whose name was Mephibosheth, and when he was 
brought into the king’s presence he bowed down very low, and asked what 
was desired of him. David raised the young man and assured him that no 
danger should befall him. He then explained to Mephibosheth that he 
desired to do a kindness to him for the sake of his father, who being dead, 
he should now find a home in his house and a father in himself. David 
then ordered that all the land that had belonged to Saul should be given to 
the young man, who should thereafter eat at the royal table and be a 


The Children of Ammon Came Out and Put the Battle in Array. 313 

member of the royal household. The conquests of David had made him 
master of nearly all Palestine, and his power was greatly feared by all the 
neighboring nations, yet he was not permitted to remain long in peace, 
for, by a curious incident, he was forced to go to war with David’s war 
one of his strongest allies, the Ammonites. Nahash, king of with thc 
the Ammonites, having died, his eldest son succeeded him, Ammomtcs * 
a petulant, vain and bigoted young man, wholly unfitted, by reason of 
indulgences in his youth to assume so important a position. When David 
heard of Nahash’s death he sent ambassadors to the young king, conveying 
messages of condolence and assurances of his wishes that the alliances made 
with Nahash should continue in effect. 

The youthful king had several brothers who, to secure their own 
exaltation, should their schemes be consummated, advised their royal brother 
not to accept the assurances of David, whom they charged with having sent 
condoling messages to disguise his real intentions, which were to spy out 
the country and discover its weakness. The new king was so influenced 
by these declarations of his brothers that he abused David’s ambassadors by 
ordering that they be shorn of half their beards, and that one-half of their 
clothes should be cut off. With this indignity he sent them out of his 
kingdom, not deigning to answer David’s messages with any words. The 
result of this insult was a speedy declaration of war by David, who vowed 
an oath that he would be revenged. 

The Ammonites, though strong in war themselves, could not hope 
for a successful issue with David without help, so they sent a present 
of one thousand talents (equivalent to nearly $2,000,000) to the king of 
Syria and Mesopotamia, who had twenty thousand soldiers, for his assist- 
ance, and they also hired the king of March, whose soldiers were not 
enumerated, and also another king named Ishtob, who had twelve thousand 
armed men. With these forces and such as they themselves could muster, 
the Ammonites marched against the Israelites. 

David had no reason to fear the result, for his army was well-nigh 
invincible, so perfectly were his soldiers trained. He therefore ordered 
out only a portion of the forces at his command, with Joab as the leader, 
a position which he had held since the capture of Jerusalem. 


314 Is Not This Bathsheba , the Daughter of Eliam ? 


The Israelites pressed the Ammonites to their own city of Rabbah, 
the capital of Ammon, and here a decisive battle was fought, lasting 



AND THERE FEED SOME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 
SERVANTS OF DAVID ; AND URIAH THE HITTITE 
DIED ALSO. — 2 Sam. 11. 17. 

nearly three days. During the pro- 
gress of this war David committed the greatest 
sin of his life. While walking upon the roof 
of his house, late in the evening, he chanced to observe a very beautiful- 
woman washing herself in a house near by. Being infatuated with her 


Joab Led Forth the Power of the Army . . . and Besieged Rabbah. 315 

appearance, lie sent a messenger to inquire who she was. By this means 
he discovered that her name was Bathsheba, and that she was the wife 
of Uriah, Joab’s armor-bearer, who was with Joab fighting against the 
Ammonites. This information caused him to conceive a heinous plan 
by which he should become possessed of this comely woman either 
as wife or concubine. He accordingly sent word to Joab, ordering that 
Uriah be brought to him. When Uriah had answered the summons 
David received him with affected kindness and many pretensions of friend- 
ship, but when he sent him back to the army, he wrote to Joab, secretly 
instructing him to procure the death of Uriah by advancing him to the 
forefront of the next battle, and then suddenly to abandon him that he 
might be slain by the enemy. All was done as David had commanded, 
and Uriah fell fighting at the gates of Rabbah, after proving himself to 
have been the most valorous man of all Israel. We will presently see 
how God punished this monstrous act of David. 

The battle, or siege of Rabbah, was vigorously contested, both sides 
losing so heavily that it was a very slaughter. Joab divided his forces 
so that a portion, under the command of Abishai, fought complete 
with the Ammonites, while he led the rest of his army overthrow of the 
against the three mercenary kings. In thus fighting, the Ammonites. 
Syrians finally flanked Joab and for a time the indications were that 
Israel would lose the battle, but Joab’s stratagems turned the tide when 
all seemed lost, and finally drove the enemy into their city. The Israelites 
laid siege to Rabbah for a time, but finally gave over the contest, being 
content with a bare victory, and returned to Jerusalem. 

The manner in which they had withstood the assaults of Israel’s 
army encouraged the Ammonites to renew hostilities, but not until they 
had largely increased their forces by the engagement of other mercenary 
kings. They accordingly sent to Chalamon, a Syrian king, whose nation 
was beyond the Euphrates, whom they persuaded, by the use of liberal 
rewards, to join them. This was a great accession, for he brought to 
the assistance of the Ammonites a force consisting of 80,000 foot soldiers 
and 10,000 cavalry. When David heard how great an army his enemies 
had raised to attack him, he was somewhat concerned for the result, and 


3 l6 


The Lord Sent Nathan Unto David. 



instead of trusting to his officers, as before, he took command in person of 
his troops and pushed across the Jordan to meet the enemy on their own 
soil. A battle was soon precipitated, which resulted in a complete over- 
throw of the Ammonites and their allies, and 
the loss of 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot 
soldiers, besides the death of the great Syrian 
leader, Shophach. The Syrians thus became 
tributary to David, and the 
power of the Ammonites was 
utterly broken. When David 
returned from the 
war with the Am- 
monites he was 
confronted 
by Nathan, 
the prophet, 
whom God 
had instruct- 
ed in a dream 
to reprove 
the king for 
the infamy 
of his action 
in causing 
Uriah to be 

VESSELS OF SILVER, AND VESSELS 
OF GOLD , AND VESSELS OF BRASS : S 1 a i U . Re- 

WHICH ALSO KING DAVID DID 

DEDICATE UNTO THE LORD. — Solving UOt 
2 Sam. 8. io, n. & 

to expose 

himself to the anger of David, which 
would certainly be excited by openly 
accusing him of his crime, Nathan engaged him in a good-natured con- 
versation, which he artfully changed after a short time, and asked the 
king’s opinion of what punishment should be given to one guilty of such 
an offence as the following: 


/ IV ill Raise Up Evil Against Thee Out of Thine Own House. 3 1 7 

u There were,” said he, u two men, inhabiting the same city, the one 
of them was rich, the other poor. The rich man had a great many 
flocks of cattle, of sheep, and of kine ; but the poor man had only one 
ewe lamb. This he brought up with his children, and let her eat her 
food with them; and he had the same natural affection for her which 
any one might have for a daughter. Now, upon the coming of a stranger 
to the rich man he would not vouchsafe to kill any of his own flocks, and 
thence feast his friends ; but he sent for the poor man’s lamb, and took her 
away from him, and made her ready for food, and then feasted the stranger.” 

This complaint of Nathan’s aroused the keenest sympathy of David, 
who denounced the rich man as the basest of criminals, and declared 
that he should, first, be required to restore the lamb fourfold, after which 
he should be executed as one unworthy to live among God’s creatures, 

When the king had somewhat spent his rage, with maledictions 
upon the rich man, Nathan arose, and pointing his finger at David, in 
a stern voice said to him : “ Thou art the rich man who 

committed this crime.” When the king would have remon- 

prophecy of 

strated, Nathan rehearsed to him the infamy of his act punishment, 
with Bathsheba, and how he had ordered that her husband 
be slain in order that he might indulge his base and lecherous propensity. 
But Nathan did not content himself with a mere denouncement of the 
king’s monstrous crime, but employed the occasion to remind him of 
God’s provident care in raising him from the humble and lowly position 
of shepherd to be king of the Jews, and had enlarged his kingdom by 
numerous manifestations of His divine favor and power. For these 
blessings he accounts himself under no obligations, and even turns 
against Jehovah with acts of iniquity and disgrace. Nathan then threat- 
ened David with God’s anger, for it was unreasonable to suppose that 
He would take no account of a crime so monstrous ; therefore the prophet 
pronounced against David a curse wherein a bitter punishment would lie ; 
that his harem should be broken up, his wives disgraced, and that he 
should be supplanted by a son begotten in iniquitous relations with one 
of his wives ; moreover, he prophesied that the offspring of Bathsheba 
would -speedily languish and die. 


318 David Fasted and Went In , and Lay All Night Upon the Earth. 



When David had heard all that Nathan was ordered by God to tell 
him, he was overcome with grief and remorse, discovering now the 
enormity of his sin, and he prayed for compassion with such earnestness 

that God finally promised to preserve to him 
his life and kingdom. But the Lord could 
not wholly forgive David’s great 
fault, and that the measure 
of his punishment might 
be complete the 
child born of 
Uriah’s wife to 
the king was 
stricken with 
disease and 
soon died, as 
Nathan had 
predicted. 
When David 
first learned 
that the child 
was sick, re- 
membering 
what Nathan 
had declared, 

AND NATHAN SAID TO DAVID, THOU ART THE he clothed 
MAN.— 2 Sam. 12. 7. . 

himself in a 

black garment and lay down upon the floor of his 
room, vvhere he remained seven days, refusing food and 
praying God for its recovery. When the child was dead 
the servants refused to tell him, fearing that any increase 
of his present grief might cause him to prolong his fast until 
he should starve to death. But David discovered, by the actions of his 
servants, that a fatal issue had resulted, and being so informed when 
he had commanded that they should tell him, instead of relapsing into 


/ Shall Go to Him , But He Shall Not Return to Me. 


3 I 9 



greater grief, he rose up and washed himself, after which he put on a 
white garment and ordered supper to be brought. While he was 
eating, some of the company perceiving how great a change had come 
over him, ventured to inquire why, when the child was ill his grief was 
uncontrollable, while now that it had just died, he should put aside 
his grief entirely. To this inquiry David made reply in the most memo- 
rable and hopeful of all words : “I shall go to 
him, but he shall not return to me.” This 
expresses his belief in 
the final resurrection, 


and is the most direct 
and implicit reference to 

that life beyond the ble the men of judah. 

. . —2 Sam. 20. 5. 

grave that is made m all 
the Old Testament. David explained to those who attended him 
that while his child lay sick he prayed to God, in the anxieties of his 
heart, for its recovery; but now that it was dead grief could not restore 
its life, and it was becoming in him that he should accept the Lord’s 
decree without murmur. This contrite spirit gained for him the favor 
of God, who comforted him with forgiveness and new assurances, and also 
by another proof of his continued care, for when Bathsheba had been 
joined to David in lawful wedlock God gave to him another child, who 


320 


He Brought for the Spoil of the City in Great Abundance. 


was afterward the glory of his kingdom. This child was named Solomon 
{peace), whom Nathan also called Jedidiah, which signifies in the Hebrew, 
Beloved of Jehovah , and for whom the prophet predicted the most wonderful 
things, chief of which was that through him should come the promised 
Messiah. 

Very soon after the birth of Solomon, Joab was sent again against the 
Ammonites, at the city of Rabbah, and after capturing the first defences and 


cutting off the city’s supply of water, rested until David 
came to his assistance at the head of all Israel. After a siege 
of a few days the city capitulated and was followed by one 
of the most cruel massacres of which history gives an account. 


David annihi- 
lates the 
Ammonites. 


The sacred narrative tells us that “ David brought out the people, and 
put them under saws, and harrows of iron, and axes, and made them pass 
through the brick-kiln, to their grim idol.” The terrors of these tortures 
can scarcely be pictured, and are too painful to be dwelt upon. Of the 
spoils which he captured little is said except that he deposited them in 
the ark of the Tabernacle. There was captured at the time, however, in 
addition to the other spoils, a so-called sacred crown weighing a talent (93^ 
pounds) of gold,* which was set with precious stones. This was worn by 
the idol Moloch which the Ammonites worshiped, but David did not 
eschew it nor consider it any profanation to wear it upon his own 
head, for we are told that he took the crown for his own royal vest- 
ment. Other cities of the Ammonites also fell into David’s possession, 
and their inhabitants were as cruelly sacrificed to his anger as were those 
of Rabbah. 

Though God forgave David for the sin of causing Uriah to be slain, 
he did not choose to forego the punishment which Nathan had prophesied, 
and we shall soon see how great a judgment was sent upon him, fulfilling 
all that the prophet had foretold. 

Among the several children that were born to David by his many 
wives and concubines there were four who became conspicuous in Bible 
history, viz.: Amnon, Tamar, Absalom and Solomon. Others are mentioned, 

* A foot-note to Josephus fixes the weight of this crown at seven pounds, and estimates that it could 
not have been greater, because David wore it upon his head constantly. 


Absalom , the Son of David , Had a Fair Sister. 


321 


but not so often, nor in connection with such important incidents as these 
four. Amnon was the eldest, having been born of his first wife, while 
Tamar was an illegitimate, or daughter of one of the king’s Amnon con- 
concubines, but she grew up to be a woman famous for beauty ceivcs a P as " 
and withal goodly in her deportment. The fascinations s, ° n ° r a 
of Tamar inspired Amnon with an unholy passion for her, notwithstand- 
ing she was his half-sister. This love constantly grew greater, until he 
contrived, through the advice of Jonadab, a kinsman, to have Tamar wait 


upon him, while he was pretending sickness, and taking advantage of her 
helplessness while they were alone, committed a great wrong which brought 
grief and disgrace upon her. As she went out from Amnon’s presence, 
she covered her head with ashes and recited the violence of her half- 
brother in the streets until she was met by her brother Absalom. When 
she had told him of Amnon’s conduct he bade her leave off crying, and 
not to esteem the act of Amnon as being so disgraceful as she had declared. 
He thus comforted her and brought her to his house to live with him. 



THEN THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE DAYS OF DAVID — 2 Sam. 21. 1. 


21 


322 


When I Say Unto You , Smite Amnon ) then Kill Him . 



David was in due time told of Amnon’s sinfulness, but on account 
of his great affection for this, his eldest son, he did not offer to punish 
Absalom's ven- him. Absalom, however, though controlling his anger, 
geance upon resolved to avenge his sister’s wrongs which he often 
h«s brother. attempted, but was unable to accomplish until two years had 
passed. He finally, to make an opportunity for his purpose, went up to 
Baal-hazor to shear his sheep, and while there gave a feast to which he 

invited his father and kinsmen. They 
all accepted the invitation except David, 
and when the feast was at its height 
wine was introduced and drunk until all 
were senseless 
with intoxica- 
tion. Absa- 
lom’s servants, 
as they had 
previously been 
instructed, now 
rushed into the 
room, and first 
creating great 
confusion in 
order to better 
disguise their 
purpose, fell 
upon Am non 
with their swords and killed 
him. The other brothers, 
as soon as their condition would permit,, gained their horses and 
fled away, intending to go directly to David, but were persuaded to tarry 
a while at a neighboring town. Thus it happened that some one went to 
David and told him that all his other sons had been slain by Absalom. 
This news so greatly affected the king that he never attempted to inquire 
the cause of his sons’ death, but fell upon the ground, tore his clothes 


AND THE KING KISSED ABSALOM .— 2 Sam. 


Then the King Arose and Tore His Garments . 


323 



shur, over which his ' maternal grandfather was king, 

and remained with him for three years, when David sent 

Joab to induce him to return home. But when Absalom had come back 
to Jerusalem his father was still unreconciled, and bade him T he remarkable 
not to come into his presence, but to remain at a house beauty of 
which was occupied by his own family. 

At this time Absalom surpassed in beauty all other men in his 
father’s kingdom. Notwithstanding the hardships endured during the 


ND HE CAST STONES AT DAVID, AND 
AT A EE THE SERVANTS OF KING 
DAVID.— 2 Sam. 16. 6. 


and was fairly crazed with grief. Seeing him so inconsolable Jonadab 
ventured to suggest that it was possible the facts had been exaggerated 
and that his sons had not been slain, though he was inclined to believe 
that Absalom had procured the death of Amnon, for his crime to Tamar. 

The brothers who had tarried by the way came to their father while 
Jonadab was trying to console him and reported how Amnon had been 
slain, whereupon 
David’s grief was in 
no wise diminished, 
for his love for Am- 
non was greater than 
the affection he bore 
for any of his other 
sons except for Absa- 
lom. After the assassi- 
nation of Amnon, 

Absalom fled to Ge- 


324 Absalom Fled , and Went to Geshur , and Was There Three Years. 


period of his exile, his fine appearance had not become impaired, for he 
still remained so comely that every one was attracted toward him. In 
his hair, however, lay his chief glory, for Josephus tells us that it grew 
so thick that it had to be cut every eighth day. 

Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem for two years without seeing his father ; 
for being a married man he remained at his own house and never 
ventured to call at the royal residence. His wife bore him three sons 
and one daughter, the latter being as famed for her beauty as was her 
aunt, Tamar. She afterward became the wife of Rehoboam, who was the 
son of Solomon, by whom she had a son whose name was Abijah. We 
will hear further of this son in a future chapter. 

Absalom became very much oppressed by reason of his father’s 
coldness, and being unable to endure the suspense longer, he sent for Joab 
David is with the view of influencing him to prevail upon David to be 
reconciled to reconciled to him. Joab promised to intercede for Absalom, 
Absalom. b ut neglected for some reason to do so, and when the cast-off 
prince sent for him again he refused to come. To better effect his purpose, 
therefore, Absalom ordered his servants to set fire to the fields adjoining 
Joab’s, knowing that he would come to inquire the cause. When Joab 
came over to reproach Absalom the latter accused him of unfaithfulness, 
and then said: “I have found out this stratagem that might bring thee to us, 
whilst thou hast taken no care to perform the injunction I laid upon thee, 
which was this, to reconcile my father to me ; and I really beg it of thee, 
now that thou art here, to pacify my father as to me, since I esteem my 
coming hither to be more grievous than my banishment, while my 
father’s wrath against me continues.” Joab pitied the distress of Absa- 
lom, and immediately went to David with such excellent excuses for his 
son’s conduct that he succeeded in fully reconciling the king. When at 
length Absalom came before his father he fell down on his knees and 
begged forgiveness of his offences, which so moved David with compas- 
sion that he raised him up and gave him the kiss of reconciliation. 

It appears very strange that Absalom should have felt such great 
grief by reason of his father’s long refusal to receive him back to his 
royal and paternal favor, when we learn that within a short time after he 


325 


Absalom Stole the Hearts of the Men of Israel . 



had been restored to his father’s confidence and love he began to plot a 
treason against the hand that had blessed him. Indeed, we are almost 
forced to conclude that Absalom’s pretensions of anguish were intended 
to disguise a purpose he 
had conceived while so- 
journing with his grand- 
father, Talmai, in the 
land of Geshur. 

Th ere were two 
things specially favora- 
ble to Absalom’s enter- 
prise, one of which was 
his extreme beauty and 
suavity of manner, at- 
tractions which David 
himself could not resist; 
but the more important 
circumstance was the 
decreasing popularity of 
the king because of his 
numerous wives and con- 
cubines, and particularly 
the crime through which 
he secured Bathsheba 
for his wife. The people 
generally commended 
Absalom for assassinat- 
ing' Amnon, and held 
David accountable for 

bringing odium upon HE , TOOK THREE darts . . . and thrust them through the 
Israel by maintaining a heart of absai.om._ 2 sam. is. i 4 . 

harem that produced the natural consequences of domestic discord and 
crime. This feeling was greatest among the men of Judah, and was most 
openly expressed in Hebron, where he was first crowned. 


326 


Absalom Sent Spies Throughout the Tribes of Israel. 

Absalom began to put his treasonable designs into execution by first 
winning the affection of the people. He stood every day at the portal 
of his father’s audience chamber ; as those having business with the king 
came out, he would accost them with civility, and to those who failed to 
a large obtain favorable judgment on their causes he would make 
army raised promises to intercede in their behalf. Besides this, he would 
by deceit. ki ss those in distress, and assure them if he ever should come 
into power to do them the fullest justice. By this means he rapidly increased 
his popularity and very soon had a large following upon whom he could 
depend when the time shoufd come for an open announcement of his 
ambition. Knowing nothing of his purpose, David granted Absalom the 
greatest indulgence, and provided him, at his request, with fifty armor-bearers 
and a considerable body of foot-runners, chariots and horsemen, ostensibly 
as an honorary guard, as befitted his station as a favorite prince of so 
powerful a potentate as was David. His popularity having been pretty 
well established, Absalom asked permission of his father to go up to 
Hebron, offering as an excuse his desire to sacrifice there according to 
a vow he had made while at Geshur. 

David still suspected no evil, and freely gave his permission ; so 
Absalom started with two hundred men who, though his followers, were 
unacquainted with his designs ; but he sent out spies at the same time, 
whom he instructed to secretly inform the people of Hebron of his inten- 
tions, and to notify them that when a certain trumpet signal was given 
they should consider it as a proclamation that he had been crowned king. 

Absalom not only induced a large number of the common people to 
join his standard, but also succeeded in winning over to his cause David’s 
chief counselor, Ahithophel, who, we suppose, was glad of an opportunity 
to oppose the king for the wrong done to Bathsheba, who was his grand- 
daughter. 

Absalom’s plans succeeded so admirably that within a short while 
after entering Hebron he had not only been proclaimed king, but had 
also raised an immense army, which he led against Jerusalem with the 
hope of taking the city and his father as well. When messengers came 
to David telling him of Absalom’s intentions, and how all the hearts of 


Come Out , Come Out, Thou Bloody Man , Thou Man of Belial. 327 


the men of Israel were with him, the king was frightened and made 
immediate preparations to abandon Jerusalem, which he, no doubt, regarded 
as being filled with those who sanctioned Absalom’s conspiracy. 

When the king departed he left the city in charge of ten of his 
concubines, but why he chose to make these the custodians of his pos- 
sessions the Bible does not tell us. There were still several faithful 
followers left him, among whom were the devoted six hundred who had 
shared his fortunes when Saul was so bitterly pursuing him for his life. 
As they fled they passed over Kidron and up the Mount of Olives and across 
to Jericho, thence to the wilderness, 

“ crying with a loud voice,” as they 
went. 

When David reached the territory 
of Benjamin he was assailed by some 
of the friends of Saul, one of whom, 

Shemei, threw stones at him, and 
cursed him as a bloody man ; insults 
which David would allow none of his 
soldiers to resent, esteeming his 
crimes as worthy of any pun- 
ishment which God might see 
proper to inflict. 

While resting on Jordan’s 
banks for the night, weary with 
much traveling, David was warned by two messengers, who had escaped 
from Jerusalem, to cross the river at once, as Absalom’s forces were hot 
in pursuit. This news proved true, for directly after entering the city, 
Ahithophel asked leave of Absalom to take 12,000 men and 

r 1 .-i j* Absalom seeks 

pursue after David, who, he claimed, might now be easily dis- David , s lifc 
patched while weak and overcome with fatigue. This counsel 
was highly commended, as Absalom was anxious to procure the death of his 
father, so as to prevent any dispute in the future as to who should rule all 
Israel. The army would have been pushed forward at once but for the 
advice of Hushai, who, being shocked by Absalom’s depravity, interposed a 



THE TOMB OF ABSALOM. 


328 


Israel and Absalom Pitched in the Land of Gilead. 


stratagem to save the king. First secretly sending messengers to apprise 
David of his son’s designs upon his life, should his plans miscarry, he went 
to Absalom and represented that the counsel of Ahithophel was unwise, 
since David was a cunning warrior, who had no doubt protected his 
retreat and had certainly set his soldiers in ambush in caves along the 
route he had taken, where to follow him would be sure to result in a 
defeat that would bring disaster to his ambition. He further counseled 
Absalom to first gather Israel together in a great army, and then assum- 
ing command himself, to overpower David, and thus make secure his 
claim to the throne. This advice Absalom followed, to the great mortifi- 
cation of Ahithophel, who, thus finding himself replaced as chief counselor 
by Hushai, went at once to his native city, Giloh, and hanged himself. 

When David was apprised of Absalom’s design to pursue him, he 
crossed the Jordan and went to Mahanaim, where he was kindly received 
# by Shobi, son of Nahash, and other Gileadites, who brought him all 
needful supplies and bade him rest with them. Here also a great number 
of people came to his assistance, which enabled him to organize a consid- 
erable army to resist the threatened invasion of his son. 

Absalom was crowned king at Jerusalem, where he spent some time 
in peaceable possession of the throne, but being in constant dread of the 


return of David at the head of a large army, resolved now 
to follow the advice of Hushai. Accordingly, he drafted 
every man available for service in that part of Palestine, 


Death of 
Absalom. 


and conferring the command upon Amasa, a half-cousin of David, he set out 
in pursuit of David, crossing the Jordan, and made his camp at Mount 
Gilead. 

David prepared to receive Absalom’s attack by dividing his army into 
three bodies, commanded, respectively, by Joab, Abishai and Ittai. Before 
joining battle David charged his officers and soldiers, particularly, not to 
harm Absalom, for his love for his erring son had not been diminished by 
his numerous acts of perfidy, and he would rather sacrifice his own life and 
crown than that any harm should come upon the head of Absalom. 

The two armies became engaged in the “ forest of Ephraim,” and a 
great battle was fought throughout the entire day, in which Absalom’s 



went quickly and told Joab, who returned with ten armor-bearers, and thrust 
three javelins into the helpless man’s heart. Joab now sounded the trumpet 
of recall, and taking down the body of Absalom cast it into a pit, over 
which he raised a pile of stones as a mark of execration. 

When the victory was complete Joab sent a messenger to inform 
David of the result, but cautioned him against saying anything concern- 
ing Absalom’s death. In the mean time, however, David had sent his 


BAY OF ZIDON FROM SARKPTA.— 2 Sam. 24. 6. 


He Took Three Darts . . Thrust them Through Absalom'' s Heart. 329 


army was routed with a loss of 20,000 men, a larger number of whom 
perished in the defiles of the forest, being unable to extricate themselves. 
Absalom sought to retreat on a mule, but the animal ran beneath the 
bough of a tree upon which his luxuriant hair caught and held him sus- 
pended, and from which he tried in vain to release himself. Some of David’s 
men, in pursuing the fleeing enemy, came up to Absalom, but spared his 
life because of David’s command ; instead of releasing him, however, they 

' 




330 The King Covered His Face and . . Cried with a Loud Voice. 

own special messenger, Ahimaaz, to inquire how the battle had gone, 
and especially to know if Absalom was safe. David sat at the gate of 
David learns of Mahanaim awaiting the return of his messenger, breathless 
Absalom’s death. w £th anxiety and forebodings of bitter woe. The watchman 
on the tower at length announced the rapid approach of a runner, fol- 
lowed directly after by another, whom he perceived by his gait must be 
Ahimaaz. This inspired David, who believed, by the manner of their 
running, that they must be bearers of good news. The first messenger 
came forward with open hands and beaming face to inform the king of 
his victory, but David’s first inquiry was, “Is the young man, Absalom, 
safe ?” The runner evaded the question by speaking of a confusion 
which was in the camp when he left. Ahimaaz now flew toward him 
with expressions of congratulation, to which the king made no reply, but 
eagerly asked if Absalom was safe. To this Ahimaaz responded, “The 
enemies of my lord, the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee 
hurt, be as that young man!” 

The full horror of this news burst suddenly upon David, the pathetic 
grief which followed being thus beautifully described by the inspired 
David’s heart- writer: “And the king was much moved, and as went up to 
breaking lament, the chamber over the gate and wept; and as he went, thus he 
said: O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! Would God I 
had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son !” 

The distress of David was so great that he refused to see any one, 
or to show himself to his victorious troops, who expected some recognition 
of their success and valor. When at length they began to murmur at 
his seclusion, Joab forced his way to the king and loudly upbraided him 
for giving himself over to grief for his bitterest enemy, and from holding 
aloof from those who had preserved him. When this argument failed to 
move him, Joab threatened to persuade the people to leave him and give 
the kingdom to another, and to make him grieve thereby more bitterly, 
if he did not cease his lamentations and go before the soldiers, who 
desired an expression of his favor. This threat aroused David from his 
melancholy, and he went out and sat by the gate to receive the saluta- 
tions of his people. 


Shall Not Sliimei Be Put to Death for This? 331 

The soldiers mourned with David for the death of Absalom, but the 
affairs of state required that he should, as speedily as possible, resume 
the throne and set about restoring the country to peace and David rem itsthe 
prosperity. He was therefore conducted back to Jerusalem, offences of his 
but while on his way several of those who had espoused enemies, 
the cause of Absalom came before him to ask forgiveness. One of these 
was Shimei, who threw stones at him when the king was retreating from 
Jerusalem. Abishai begged David to kill this man for his offences, but 
to this importunity the king replied : “ Will you never leave off, ye sons 



I.ET MY EORD THE KING TAKE AND OFFER UP WHAT SEEMETH GOOD UNTO HIM — 2 Sam. 24. 22. 


of Zeruiah ? Do not you, I pray, raise new troubles and seditions among 
us, now the former are over; for I would not have you ignorant that I this 
day begin my reign, and therefore swear to remit to all offenders their 
punishments, and not animadvert on any one that has sinned. Be thou 
therefore of good cheer, O Shimei, and do not at all fear being put to 
death.” 

It was thus that David gave a full pardon to all those who had 
joined in Absalom’s rebellion, believing that such a course would most 


332 


Amasa Wallowed in Blood in the Midst of the Highway . 


speedily secure the adherence of those who had been against him. But 
his generosity was the direct cause of another uprising, for the Ben- 
jaminites were displeased at his actions, and especially angered at the 
men of Judah, who having been the first to give their allegiance to 
Absalom, were also the first to receive and convey David back to Jeru- 
salem; so that a dispute arose, 
the desire of the Benjaminites 
being to punish the Judahites, 
or to shut them out from the 
benefits of Israel. This- dispute 
finally led Sheba, a Benjaminite, 
to proclaim war. Taking ad- 
vantage of the furious passions 
excited, he blew his trumpet and 
shouted: “Every man to his 
tent, O Israel !” 

Learning of the trouble, 
which grieved David greatly, he 
appointed Amasa as an evidence 
of his desire for reconciliation, a 
commander of his army, to suc- 
ceed Joab, and instructed him 
to muster the forces of Judah 
within three days to crush the 
revolt of the Benjaminites. 
Amasa went, promising to per- 
form the duty assigned him, but 
when he got into the camp of 
Judah he refused to muster the men. David now sent Joab and Abishai 
to suppress the uprising of the Benjaminites. They proceeded to Gibeon 
An uprising of the and there met Amasa with the main army. Under a pre- 
Benjaminites. tence of great friendship Joab embraced Amasa, but while so 
doing he thrust a dagger into his heart, and then pressed on after Sheba, 
who fled north adding recruits as he went until he came to Abel of 



His Head shall be Thrown to Thee Over the Wall . 333 



Beth-maachah at the head of the Jordan River. Here he made a stand 
and was soon besieged by Joab. The investiture of the city being com- 
plete, and the citizens perceiv- 


ing that there were no means 
for escape, were upon the point 
of surrendering and submitting 
themselves to the mercy 
of their captors, when a 
wise woman of the town 
contrived to secure 
an interview with 
Joab, by which she 
learned that the de- 
sire of the besiegers 
was to punish 
Sheba rather than 
those who were his | 
followers. Accord- , 
ingly, she induced % 
the people to cut | 
off Sheba’s head p 
and throw it over 1 
the wall to Joab, 
who now being 
satisfied raised the 
siege and returned 
to Jerusalem. 

The assassina- 
tion of Amasa by Joab 
was a greater crime 
than that of the murder 
of Abner, as already 
related, for in the latter case Joab had the small excuse for his act that 
Abner had killed Asahel, his brother, though in self-defence. But Amasa 




THE ANGEE . . . STOOD BY THE THRESHING FEOOR 
OF ORNAN. — x Chron. 21. 15. 


334 Abishai . . Succored Him , Smote the Philistine , and Killed Him. 



was murdered for no other reason than that of the jealousy of Joab, 
aroused by his being superseded in the command of David’s army. 

David enjoyed only a short period of peace after Sheba’s death, when 
he went to war with the Philistines, whose territory bordered on his king- 

dom. In the first battle David’s 
army was victorious, but he 
came near receiving his death 
wound after the enemy had 
been dispersed. Being in per- 
sonal command of his men he 
had pursued the Philis- 
tines until he had become 
separated from his attend- 
ants, and being at length 
very tired he sat 
down to rest him- 
self. While thus 
resting, one of the 
enemy who had 
been hiding came 
out of his place 
of concealment to 
attack the ex- 
hausted king. 
This man was a 
giant who bore a 
spear quite as 
large as was that 
of Goliath, and 
wore a breastplate 

THESE LIKEWISE CAST LOTS OVER AGAINST THEIR BRETHREN i Chron 2d r i i 

* ’ ol chain work. 

He rushed upon David, but his great stature chanced to be observed by 
Abishai, who ran to his king’s assistance just in time to receive the 
giant’s stroke upon his shield. He now engaged the giant in a conflict 


A Man of Great Stature That Had on Every Hand Six Fingers. 335 

with swords and slew him before David’s eyes. This narrow escape 
admonished the king to accept the advice of his counselors not to go 
any more into battle, and to intrust his leadership to good men of his 
selecting. 

The Philistines soon after gathered at the city of Gazara and were 
there besieged by the Israelites. The victory here obtained was due to 
the remarkable courage and dexterity of Sibbechai, a Hushathite, who 
challenged and vanquished, single-handed, several of the most 
noted fighters in the Philistine army, who prided themselves ° uelsto dec,dc 

0 r the issues of war. 

upon being the sons of giants. 

After their defeat at Gazara the Philistines made war again, and the 
two armies being brought up in battle array it was decided b}^ mutual 
consent that the issue should be determined by an encounter between a 
champion chosen from among each army. Nephan, a kinsman of David, 
was selected to fight for Israel, and his adversary was “the stoutest of 
all the Philistines.” The victory was on the side of Israel; but though 
the Philistines retired, they were not vanquished, and when they had 
changed their camp and set it up a short distance from that of the Hebrews, 
they sent another challenge to any one in the Jewish army to fight with 
the champion they offered to put forth. This defy was promptly accepted. 
The one chosen by the Philistines was a giant nine feet in height, and 
was distinguished also for having six toes on each foot, and as many 
fingers on each hand. Notwithstanding his great size and appalling aspect, 
Jonathan, the nephew of David, went out to meet him. They fought a 
furious battle, but Jonathan killed his mighty antagonist, thereby gaining 
a reputation as great as that of any other man who had ever fought for 
Israel. 

After the last war recorded with the Philistines, David reigned in 
tranquillity for a considerable time, during which he wrote many beautiful 
songs which we find printed in the book of Psalms. Josephus is of opinion 
that nearly all of these were written during this interval. 

The dominant spirit of Israel being warlike, though there were no 
enemies threatening, David, at length, to employ his restless disposition, 
conceived the enterprise of subjugating some neighboring tribes, and to 


336 


Why Doth My Lord, the King , Delight in This Thing ? 


appointed census takers in all the several districts, but it was nearly 
ten months before the enumeration was completed. The result of the 
numbering’ showed that there were five hundred thousand available men 
of the tribe of Judah, and eight hundred thousand belonging to the 
other tribes, all of whom were capable of performing military service. 



prepare for such a campaign he ordered that a census be taken of all the 
men in his kingdom capable of bearing arms. This order was given to 
Joab, who first refused to obey it, because he foresaw that David had in 
his mind some new enterprise of conquest ; but when the order was 

repeated he undertook the 
duty, which was by no 
means a small one. Joab 


AND DAVID SAID . . . THE HOUSE THAT IS TO BE BUIEDED FOR THE EORD MUST BE EXCEEDING 
MAGNIFICAI*. — i Chron. 22. 5. 


337 



minded, as Shimei had said, and He accordingly resolved to punish 
him. God’s determination had been communicated to David in a dream, 
so that he had foreknowledge that a visitation of divine wrath was to be 


Choose Thee One of Them , That I May do it Unto Thee. 

The entire population of Israel must have been therefore about ten 
millions. This enumeration of the people, for the purpose it was intended, 
greatly angered God, who perceived that David had become bloody 


THE KING SAID ... GO NOW THROUGH ALE THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL AND NUMBER THE 
PEOPLE. — 2 Sam. 24. 2. 


22 


338 Israel Afflicted with a Pestilence . 

sent upon him, but he knew not what character of punishment would be 
inflicted. In the prayers which he now offered up he freely acknowledged 
the crime he had contemplated, and begged for forgiveness. 

In the morning David was visited by the prophet Gad, who announced 
to him God’s purpose, but permitted him to choose one of three kinds of 
Choosing one punishment, viz.: seven years of famine ; three months of 
of three kinds of fighting in which his enemies should be invariably victorious, 
punishment. or ^ ree d a y S 0 f pestilence. David knew not which to choose, 
but upon being pressed with one of three alternatives he at length bowed 
himself in submission to the promised pestilence. 

A few days thereafter God sent an angel over Israel to afflict the 
people with a pestilence, from which no less than seventy thousand men 
died within the time it was permitted to endure — three days. 

On the last day, as David was looking toward the point of Mount 
Moriah, he perceived an angel, as if suspended in mid-air, having a drawn 
sword, threatening the utter annihilation of Jerusalem. David and the 
elders of Israel now put on sackcloth, and the king bowed himself and 
prayed that God might sacrifice him, but to spare the people, who had 
not shared in his sin. 

When Gad saw David humbling himself before God, he told him to 
go up to Mount Moriah, and there upon the threshing floor of Araunah 
set up an altar to the Lord. In obedience to this command David went 
up, but when Araunah, who was at the time threshing wheat, saw the 
king coming he bowed himself and asked why he had come to his place. 
David answered that he had come to buy the threshing-floor upon which 
to build an altar for a burnt-offering to the Lord, that He might take 
away the pestilence. Araunah, hearing this, offered his threshing-floor as 
a gift, and also his oxen for a sacrifice, but David would not accept them, 
except that Araunah would take full payment. So David bought the 
threshing-floor, paying its full value, and built an altar, and when he had 
put an ox thereon God sent down fire from heaven to consume it, which 
was a proof that his sacrifice was acceptable. The pestilence was thus 
stayed on the evening of the third day. 


CHAPTER XVI. 



Then David said , this is the house of the Lord God . 

EALIZING that the days of his life were drawing to 
an early close David decided to crown his achieve- 
ments by building a magnificent temple, and dedi- 
cating it to the glory and service of God. He also 
designated Solomon, his son by Bathsheba, to be 
his successor, two actions that redounded to the 
honor and incalculable benefit of Israel. 

Mount Moriah (signifying vision) had become 
celebrated long before David had set up an altar there, 
•for it was the identical spot upon which Abraham had built an altar to 
sacrifice his son Isaac. It was therefore now doubly holy ground, and 
David determined that this should be the site for the glorious temple to 
God, long contemplated in his mind. He had been preserving spoils 
captured from his enemies with which to build the Temple, and these, 
we are told, now amounted to 100,000 talents of gold, and ten times as 
much silver. The exact value of the Hebrew talent of the time of David 
has never been determined, being variously estimated by Biblical writers 
at from $1,000 to $1,700, but if either of these estimates be correct, the 
value of the precious metals captured by David, to be devoted to the 
construction of the Temple, was enormous, greater, indeed, than the accumu- 
lation of any sovereign that ever ruled on earth. The probability is that 
the amount of David’s treasure has been greatly exaggerated, for there is 
scarcely such an amount of silver now among all the commercial nations 
of the world. 

Having chosen a site for the temple, thus miraculously pointed out, 
David procured the services t of all the skilled workmen that could be 
found, either in his own kingdom or the foreign nations with which he 

(339) 


340 


Now King David was Old and Stricken in Years. 



had intercourse. These he employed to hew stones, and to prepare iron 
and brass for use in the construction, and sent to the Sidonians and 
Tyrians for the famed cedars of Lebanon, of which the wood-work was 
to be made. But, after these preparations were begun, David was warned 
by God, through the prophet Nathan, that he should leave the construc- 
tion to his son and successor, Solomon, as it was not becoming that a 

man who had shed so much blood as 
David should be either the designer or 
builder of a temple to be dedicated to 
Jehovah and peace. David 
recognized the justice of 
this denial and accord- 
ingly charged all the 
princes of Israel to 
help Solomon in the 
great work, 
and to give 
their hearts 
and souls to 
God. 

Adonijah, 
the fourth 
and eldest 
surviving son 
of David, by 
his wife Hag- 
gith,had long 
aspired to the 
rulership of 

Israel, in succession to his father. He was a man almost as distinguished 
for his beauty as had been Absalom, and was the recipient of quite 
as many indulgences, so that his expectations were natural. There- 
fore, when he learned that Solomon had been designated by David as the 
successor, he attempted to raise a rebellion and establish himself by force. 


THE PEOPLE REJOICED, FOR THAT THEY OFFERED WILLINGLY. — i Chron. 29. 9. 


Be Thou Strong , Therefore , and Show Thyself a Man. 341 

He accordingly gathered a strong guard about him, including many 
charioteers and horsemen, and also won over to himself the services of 
Joab and Abiathar. Considering the time ripe for his enterprise, he gave 
a great feast at the rock of Zoheleth, near Enrogel, to which he invited 
many of his brothers, and others favorable to his schemes, who set up 
the cry during the festival, “Long live King Adonijah ! ” 

News of the revolt speedily reached the prophet Nathan, and he 
immediately informed Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, whom he advised to 
see David at once and secure the interests of her son. This she did, 
and had the satisfaction of procuring an order from David for the imme- 
diate anointing of Solomon, which was performed by the priest Zadoc, 
with the sacred oil taken from the Tabernacle. When Solomon had thus 
been proclaimed king a great shout of rejoicing went up from the people, 
which frightened Adonijah so that he fled for safety to the horns of the 
altar in the sanctuary. Solomon, however, being a man of peace, had no 
desire to harm his brother, whom he now assured of safety, and bade him 
return to his house. 

Soon after this event David called all the people together, to whom 
he now gave his final charge, knowing from his age and extreme feebleness 
that death was near at hand. He gave to Solomon, in the David . s | ast 
presence of his subjects, the plans of the Temple which he charge to 
had designed, and also the money and materials that had Solomor1 * 
been collected. A thanksgiving and prayer service was then held in 
honor of Solomon, who was now for a second time anointed king of 
Israel, and Zadoc proclaimed high-priest. 

The last act of David, when he had become bed-ridden and felt the 
chill of approaching death, was to send for Solomon, whom he charged to 
keep the laws of Moses and to walk uprightly before the Lord in all 
things, who would magnify his power and glory above that of any other 
king who had ruled Israel. He told him also of the crimes of Joab, who 
had without just provocation murdered Abner and Amasa, and advised 
that he be punished according to his deserts. He also denounced Shimei 
as a man unworthy of confidence, but commended to Solomon’s favor the 
good people who had so generously succored him when he had fled from 


342 


In Gibeon the Lord Appeared to Solomon in a Dream . 



Absalom to Mahanaim. Soon after completing this charge, David, the 
greatest king of all Israel to the time of his successor, died, having reigned 
in all forty years, seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 
He was buried in the City of David (Jerusalem) with great pomp, and 

his sepulchre was long a shrine 
at which the Jewish people came 
v to weep and pray. 

After the burial of 
David, God appeared to Sol- 
omon in a dream and asked 
him what gift he most de- 
sired, for whatsoever he 
would ask should be grant- 
ed. The answer which he 
returned was a true index to 
his greatness and a pro- 
phecy of the success of 
his reign. To the time 
of his accession to the 
throne, all of Israel’s 
rulers had been de- 
voted to war, first of 
resistance and after- 
ward of subjugation 
and spoliation, and 
none had pursued the 
profession of arms so 

HE GARNISHED THE HOUSE WITH 

precious stones for beauty. — industriously as 

2 Chron. 3. 6. ^ 

David. Therefore we 
might suppose that Solomon would choose greatness, the overcoming of all 
enemies and a further extension of his power, but so far from inheriting 
ambition, he had been given a spirit of prudence with a degree of humility, 
so he prayed to God that he might be endowed with wisdom, which was 
accordingly given to him, with a promise also of a long life if he should 
show himself worthy. 


Adonijah Shall Be Put to Death This Day. 


343 



Though Solomon had come to the throne with acclamations of all 
the people, Adonijah did not give up all hope of gaining the coveted 
position, and sought in many ways to secure a following that would enable 
him to wrest the power from his brother. He conceived the infamous 
project of wedding one of his deceased father’s wives, with the idea that 
such a marriage would give him the throne by right, and that his claim 
would then 
be acknowl- 
edged by the 
people. He 
therefore 
went to Bath- 
sheba and 
begged her 
to intercede 
in his behalf, 
and obtain 
from Solo- 
mon consent 
for him to 
marry Abis- 
hag,awoman 
whom David 
had married 
in his declin- 
ing years. 

In making this request 
Adonijah protested his love for Sol- 
omon, and declared that since God 
had ordained him to be king his own 
wish was to be a servant to his lord and 
brother all his days. Bathsheba did not 
discover the purpose which Adonijah 

WHO SHOULD PROPHESY WITH HARPS, 

has so specially disguised, and though with psalteries, and with cym- 
bals. — i Chron. 25. 1. 


344 Their Blood Shall Therefore Return Upon the Head of Joab. 

thinking the request a singular and improper one, went to Solomon and 
asked him to give his consent to the marriage of Adonijah with Abishag, 
supposing the desire proceeded from a natural passion. 

Though Solomon had a great affection for his mother, to whom he 
promised to grant any request she might make, he perceived at once the 
object of Adonijah’s desire, and horrified at the iniquity of the man, he 
ordered Benaiah, captain of the guard, to seize his infamous half-brother 
and slay him as unworthy to live to the disgrace of Israel. 

When Joab heard of Adonijah’s death he was greatly frightened, 
having been an instigator of the treasonable designs of Adonijah; and 
joab killed at knowing that his actions and advice must be betrayed to the 

the altar. king, he fled to the sanctuary, hoping to find safety in the 

reverence which Solomon held for the sacred altar. But when Solomon 
was apprised of what Joab had done, he ordered Benaiah to pursue him 
and bring him to the judgment seat for trial. Joab, however, refused to 
leave the altar, still cleaving to it as his only hope of escape from pun- 
ishment, which fact being told to Solomon, he ordered Benaiah to cut off 
his head where he stood. This order was promptly obeyed and Benaiah 
was thereafter appointed to succeed Joab as commander of the whole army. 

Shimei’s punishment was not long delayed. Solomon, not desiring 
to put him to death, ordered him to build a house in Jerusalem and remain 
in the city, where he would not be molested, but if he passed over Kidron 
(Cedron) he should be slain. Solomon no doubt prohibited Shimei from 
going out of the immediate neighborhood for fear that if he were put 
under no restraint he would stir up trouble and possibly incite some of 
the people to rebellion, for it was evident he was not a trustworthy man. 
Shimei promised with an oath to observe the command, but three years 
afterward he left Jerusalem and went to Gath in pursuit of two of his 
servants who had fled there. On his return Solomon had Shimei brought 
before him, and after reminding him of his oath and also the insults he 
had heaped upon David, ordered Benaiah to kill him, which was accord- 
ingly done. 

One of the first cases brought before Solomon for judgment, which 
must have been very soon after his accession to the throne, was one wherein 


Then Came There Two Women . . . Unto the King. 


345 



two women claimed to be mother to the same child, and disputed for 
its possession. The first to speak before the king made her complaint 
that she lived in the same house with the other woman a contested child 
before the bar, the two being alone, and had a few days before restored to its 
given birth to a child. She further declared that on the third 
night thereafter the other disputant had also borne a babe, but that during 
the night the woman of whom she complained had overlaid her child and 
killed it, and then taken its dead 
body and laid it in the place of 
the live child, which she had taken 
away and claimed as her own. 

When the first woman had 
spoken, Solomon asked that 
the second one be introduced 
to give her testi- 
mony. When she 
had come in she 
fell to crying and 
related to the king 
a story exactly 
similar to that 
which the first 
woman had told, 
except that she 
accused the first 
of overlying her 
child and of then 
stealing her 

own. W hen AND we will cut wood out of LEBANON —2 chrou. 2. 16. 

these statements 

had been made, all those about the king wondered how a just judgment 
could be given, as it was impossible to decide which woman had sworn 
falsely. The difficulty, however, did not appear so great to Solomon, who 
ordered that a sword be brought to him, which being done, he commanded 


346 


They Saw that the Wisdom of God Was in Him. 


one of his guards to divide the living child in half, and give to each 
woman an equal part, by which act alone could it be made to appear 
that impartial judgment was awarded, and justice be made to triumph, for 
with prescient wisdom he foresaw how true motherly affection would 
manifest itself in such an appalling crisis. But when the guard was upon 
the point of destroying the live child, the real mother cried aloud, begging 
the king to stay the hand of his officer and to give the child to the 
other woman, for she would rather be content with occasionally seeing her 
babe, even in the arms of her rival, than that it should be so cruelly 
killed. The other woman, however, insisted on having both children cut 
in two, as the king had ordered, by which cruel desire the king perceived 
who was indeed the real mother of the living child, and accordingly 
ordered that it be restored to her. He also condemned the other woman 
for her wickedness, but whether he visited her with any punishment the 
Bible does not state. 

This manifestation of the great wisdom with which he was endowed 
inclined all the people to believe that the king was possessed of a divine 
mind. Concerning the abilities of this great man, Josephus thus writes : 

Now the sagacity and wisdom which God had bestowed upon Solomon was so great 
that he exceeded the ancients, insomuch that he was no way inferior to the Egyptians, 
who are said to have been beyond all men in understanding ; nay, indeed, 

The wisdom of 

Solomon it is evident that their sagacity was very much inferior to that of the 
king. He also excelled and distinguished himself in wisdom above those 
who were most eminent among the Hebrews at that time for shrewdness ; those I mean 
were Ethan, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He also composed 
books of odes and songs, a thousand and five ; of parables and similitudes, three thousand ; 
for he spake a parable upon every sort of tree, from the hyssop to the cedar ; and in like 
manner also about beasts, about all sorts of living creatures, whether upon the earth, or 
in the seas, or in the air ; for he was not unacquainted with any of their natures, nor 
omitted inquiries about them, but described them all like a philosopher, and demonstrated 
his exquisite knowledge of their several properties. God also enabled him to learn that 
skill which expels demons, which is a science useful and sanative to men. He composed 
such incantations also by which distempers are alleviated. And he left behind him the 
manner of using exorcisms, by which they drive away demons, so that they never return, 
and this method of cure is of great force unto this day.; for I have seen a certain man 
in my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people, that were demoniacal, in 


There Came All People to Hear the Wisdom of Solomon. 347 

the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his captains, and the whole multitude of his 
soldiers. The manner of the cure was this : He put a ring that had a root of one of 
those sorts mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which he 
drew out the demon through his nostrils ; and when the man fell down, immediately he 



IN THE PLAIN OK JORDAN DID THE KING CAST THEM. — 2 Chron. 4. 17. 


adjured him to return into him no more, making still mention of Solomon, and reciting 
the incantations which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and demonstrate 
to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a little way off a cup or basin full of 
water, and commanded the demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby 
to let the spectators know that he had left the man ; and when this was done, the skill 


348 


He Began to Build the House of the Lord. 


and wisdom of Solomon was shown very manifestly ; for which reason it is that all men 
may know the vastness of Solomon’s abilities, and how he was beloved of God, and that 
the extraordinary virtues of every kind with which this king was endowed may not be 
unknown to any people under the sun. 


Building the 
Temple. 


Solomon set about building the Temple, that was conceived by his 
father, soon after coming to the throne and immediately after the 
organization of his army. In this gigantic undertaking he 
was assisted by Hiram, king of Tyre, whose aid he solicited 
by letter. The Tyrians felled cedars and brought them by 
sea to Joppa, from whence they were carted by Solomon’s men over the 
thirty miles of road to Jerusalem. For all this work a levy was made 
from among the people whom David had subdued, numbering one hun- 
dred and fifty-three thousand three hundred men. These were appointed to 
certain tasks, seventy thousand being set to transporting cedars, eighty 
thousand were made hewers, and three thousand three hundred were appointed 
overseers. Besides these there were also thirty thousand Israelites 
engaged, who worked in Lebanon by relays of ten thousand, each of the 
three relays serving a month’s time, and returning home they rested two 
months, when they renewed their work again. Some of these were also 
masons set to hew out large stones, which, being brought from Western 
Phoenicia, were very expensive when laid down, ready dressed, in Jerusalem. 

The chief architect of the Temple was a man named Hiram, no rela- 
tion of the king of Tyre, but a person whose skill was so great that his 
fame was known throughout Palestine. He was the son of a widow of 
Naphtali, and whose father had been a noted artist. This man 
was not only an architect but also a worker in brass, iron, gold, silver, 
stone, timber, and a designer in all branches. His greatest work in con- 
nection with the Temple was the building of two brazen pillars called 
Jachin and Boaz, which stood on either side of the porch in front of the 
Holy Place. 

The Temple proper was erected inside of a walled enclosure, which 
formed a square of six hundred feet, and was planned after the model of 
the Tabernacle, differing chiefly in having chambers built about the sanc- 
tuary for the abode of priests and attendants, and also to keep the 


Solomon Overlaid the House with Pure Gold. 


349 



treasures. This sanctuary occupied a space about one hundred and 
twenty by sixty feet, and the Tabernacle thirty by sixty feet, the latter 
covering just one-fourth the space of the former. r"" .. 

The Tabernacle was divided into three 
parts, as was also the Temple, called 
respectively the Porch, Holy Place, and 
Holy of Holies. The Porch was 
supported by Hiram’s two brazen 
pillars, which stood 


FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER. — 2 Chron. 5. 13. 

nearly thirty-five feet high and were magnificently figured with imitations of 
lilies and pomegranates. The entire interior of the Temple was made of cedar 
overlaid with gold and occasionally set with precious stones, producing 
at once a sublime and dazzlingly beautiful effect. Gold and silver were also 


35 ° 


He Carved All the Walls of the House Round About. 



lavishly used in the exterior adornment of the building, and all the prin- 
cipal furniture of the Holy Place was of the more precious metal. Above 
the ark were placed the images of two cherubim, made of cedar laid with 
gold, whose wings extended above the ark till they touched, and also met 
at the walls behind them, their extreme height being fifteen feet. The 
altar of incense was of cedar overlaid with gold, and the place was lighted 

with candles set in seven golden candlesticks. 
Besides these there were ten tables of gold 
upon which the shew-bread was set, 
and all the vessels used in the service 
were of beaten gold. 

The outer court was scarcely less 
lavishly decorated and provided. The 
brazen laver which had so long done 
service for the priests, 
since the days of Moses, 
was now replaced by 
what was called u a 
molten sea of brass,” 
which was supported 
upon the backs of 
twelve brazen 
oxen. This con- 
tained holy water 
for the ablution 
of the priests. Its 
size was eight 
feet in height and 

fifteen in diameter. The Temple was made chiefly of stones cut at the 
quarries, which were cut so exactly that when brought to be laid every 
one fitted as if hewn upon the site and frequently tested. The time 
required in constructing this then greatest wonder of the world, was seven 
and one-half years, the completion occurring in the eleventh year of 
Solomon’s reign, B. C. 1005. 


THE fire CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT 
OFFERING. — 2. Chron. 7. 1. 


The Elders of Israel Came , and the Priests Took Up the Ark. 351 


The dedication of Solomon’s Temple was, in all respects, the grandest 
occasion that was ever celebrated by the Jewish people. The preparation 
for this event was on a scale equal with the bewildering mag- The splcndid 
nificence of the Temple itself. The time chosen for its ceremonies of 
celebration was the joyous season, the Feast of Tabernacles, dedication, 
corresponding to our month of September. The people had now garnered 
their crops, which were plentiful that season, and in the exuberance of 
delightsome spirits gathered from all parts of the kingdom to participate 
in the ceremonies. Solomon clothed himself in the priestly vestments 
worn by his father, but gave the ark in charge of the priests and Levites, 
to whom its care had been bestowed by the law of Joshua. When all had 
been made ready the full body of holy officers appeared to transfer the ark 
from its former resting-place to the new abode provided, beneath the wide- 
stretching wings of the cherubim and behind the holy veil. After thus 
depositing the ark, as the priests came out the Levites arranged them- 
selves in three courses of psalmody, clad in garments of white, and burst 
forth with the sacred chorus accompanying their tuneful voices with instru- 
ments, and making the very world musical with their divine-like symphony. 
The joyful refrain was, “For He is good; for His mercy endureth for 
ever.” 


God was near this holy scene, for at this moment, “just as the 
trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in 
praising and thanking Jehovah.” He gave the sign of His Manifestation 
coming to take possession of His Temple. “ The house was of thc Lord ’ s 
filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah, so that the presence, 
priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud ; for the glory of 
Jehovah had filled the house of Jehovah.” As that sacred cloud spread 
through the open doors over the sanctuary, the voice of Solomon was 
heard recognizing the presence of the God who had said that He would 
dwell in the thick darkness, and for whom he had now built a habitation 
forever. Then turning to the people from the great platform of brass, 
which he had erected in the midst of the court, in front of the brazen 
altar, the king blessed Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had chosen Jerusa- 
lem as the place sacred to His name, and had performed His promises to 


352 


The Glory of the Lord Had Filled the House . 



David and fulfilled liis desire to build Him a house. And now, kneeling 
down before the whole congregation, with his face toward the sanctuary, 
Solomon poured forth a prayer unequaled for sublimity and comprehen- 
siveness, in which the leading thought, repeated with beautiful variety and 
minuteness, is this: that the abode which Jehovah had deigned to sanctify 
with His presence might prove the centre of blessing and forgiveness to 
His people ; that whatever prayer for help, whatever penitent confession 
in the time of suffering and exile they might offer toward that house, God 

would hear it from His 
true dwelling-place in 
heaven, and forgive His 
people who had 
sinned against 
Him. The prayer 
is, indeed, a pro- 
phecy of the his- 
tory of Israel, and 
of God’s chastise- 
ment of their sins, 
even to the 
captivity. He 
concluded 
with a bless- 
ing and ex- 
hortation to 
the people. 
The prayer of 
Solomon was 
followed by 
another sign of God’s pres- 
ence. The fire came down 
from heaven, as on the first 
altar of burnt-offering, and con- 
sumed the sacrifices, while the 

HE CHARGED SOEOMON HIS SON.— i Kings 2. 1. 


353 


They Seta ijiced Sheep and Oxen , that Could Not Be Numbered. 



twice seven days, seven for the 
Feast of Tabernacles, and seven for 
the dedication, and on the twenty- 
third day of the month Solomon dismissed the people. They returned 
to their homes, “ glad and merry in heart for all the goodness that Jehovah 
had shewed unto David and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.” 

When Solomon had finished and dedicated the Temple, he set about 
constructing a palace which was little inferior in magnificence to the House 

of God, though he did not hasten the work as he did that on the Temple, 
23 


Shekinah again filled the house, preventing the entrance of the priests, 
as if, for that one day, God claimed the sanctuary as His very own, to the 
exclusion of all mere creatures. 

Then Solomon and all the people offered their sacrifices on the altar, 
22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, the priests executing the office, while the 
Levites played and sang in their order 
and to the words of David. 

V. 

A great feast followed for * 


■ ' ‘ ' v‘ * - * ;■ 


AND KING SOLOMON MADR A NAVY 
OF SHIPS. — 1 Kings 9. 26. 


354 It IVas in the Heart of David ... to Build a House. 

This palace, which took thirteen years to build, was about one hundred 
and fifty feet in length, seventy-five feet broad, and nearly fifty feet in 
height, supported by cedar pillars. It had folding doors, 
Building of the somew h at a ft er the fashion of modern buildings, and its 

king’s palace. 

Corinthian roof and ceilings were elaborately frescoed. 
Josephus declares it to have been in many respects a very curious building, 
an observation no doubt prompted by the fact that it was never told how 



From painting by E. J. Poynter, R.A. 
CAME TO PROVE SOEOMON WITH HARD QUESTIONS.— 2 Chrou. 9. x. 


Copyright, 1891, by British Art Union. 
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA . . . 


many rooms it contained, nor were the people given to know anything 
about the subterranean passages and dungeons which were built beneath it, 
except that such secret ways and rooms had been provided. Adjoining 
the main building was another erected for the habitation of Solomon’s queen, 
and smaller structures for sleeping and dining. Some of these were built 
of stones fifteen feet square, and all their floors were laid in cedar. 
About the whole was a garden that must have exceeded in beauty 
those of Babylon. Among the ornaments scattered about the grounds 


Hiram . . . Furnished Solomon with Cedar Trees and with Gold. 355 

were immense stones carved to represent trees and a great variety of 
plants, with such perfection, too, that Josephus tells us it was difficult to 
distinguish them from the real, the stone leaves being carved so thin as to 
appear to stir with every breeze. 

The throne-room of Solomon’s palace exceeded in grandeur and 
magnificence of furniture and embellishment all the other rooms or edifices 
excepting, possibly, that of the Holy of Holies in the Solomon's 

Temple. He adorned the ceilings and walls with precious throne-room, 
stones set in gold, which must have produced the most exquisitely 
beautiful effect. The throne itself he made of solid ivory, and it was so 
large that it had to be ascended by a flight of six steps. At the end of 
each step was the figure of a lion of life size, though of what material we 
are not told. I11 the back of the throne-seat were fixed the mechanical 
hands, which, Josephus says, came out to receive the king as he sat down, 
but his back rested on the figure of a bullock of gold. 

Solomon was greatly assisted in all this labor and expense by his 
friend Hiram, king of Tyre, who sent him vast quantities of gold and 
silver and received in return presents of corn, oil and wine, which the 
Hebrews raised in abundance. But Solomon further enriched his posses- 
sions by fitting out ships that went as far as India and brought him 
precious metals, stones and fabrics. 

The wisdom and wealth of Solomon, as well as the renown of his 
palace and the Temple dedicated to God, made his name familiar to all 
the rulers of the world. By marriage with a daughter of one of the kings 
of Egypt he established commercial relations with the Egyptians, which 
resulted largely to his advantage. Among those who heard much concern- 
ing his fame was a certain queen who ruled over a portion of south 
Arabia, called Sabasa, near the sea. She is commonly called, as in the 
Bible, the Queen of Sheba, and is represented as having come from 
Ethiopia, but those best versed in the history of the Jews declare that 
she was not an Ethiopian, but that the country over which she ruled 
was south of Arabia Felix, and was called Sabaea, of which fact there is 
now no longer any doubt. This woman was of an inquiring mind and 
much given to philosophy, for which reason she made a journey to 



356 Sheba Came to Jerusalem with a Very Great Train 


visit Solomon, that she might discourse with him on matters concerning 
which she desired information, as well also to behold with her own eyes 
the wonders of his palace and of the Temple. Accordingly she loaded 
many camels with rich presents, and accompanied by a large retinue of 
servants, came to Jerusalem, where she was graciously received by the 
king. Upon beholding all the magnificent things which Solomon showed 
her, she confessed that they exceeded even the flattering j descriptions 
she had heard, but in her interview with the king if she was more 

deeply im- 
pressed by his 


AND SODOMON BROUGHT UP THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH . . . UNTO THE HOUSE THAT HE HAD 
BUIET FOR HER.— 2 Chron. 8 . 11. 

wisdom than by the wondrous things and riches of his surroundings. 
This friendly visit was terminated, at the end of several days, by an 
exchange of costly presents, such as gold, silver and precious stones, 
when she returned to her own country to spread anew the fame of Israel’s 
great king. 


When Solomon Was Old His Wives Turned Away His Heart. 357 


The history of Solomon’s reign is . very meagre, comparatively few 
incidents of his administration being recorded in either the Bible or 
Josephus’ writings. We are told that he subjugated all the Solomon aban _ 
Canaanites and made them his slaves, but none of the battles dons God and 
he had with these people are described ; but he could hardly bows dowf1 to 
have accomplished their enslavement without a long and 
terribly destructive warfare. So we are told, but very briefly, of the 
manner in which he fortified Jerusalem, and surrounded the city by a great 
wall, but the principle portion of the Bible referring to Solomon is devoted 
to descriptions of his wealth and the luxurious extravagances of his court. 

With all of Solomon’s wisdom, his riches finally destn^ed the gift of 
prudence with which he was endowed, and brought him into excesses that 
incurred God’s displeasure, resulting in a rupture, and a division of the 
kingdom of Israel. In many respects he was like his father, and these 
inherited passions at length dominated his better nature, and carried him 
to his grave in an inglorious manner. His disorder was first manifested 
by his taking a large number of wives, to which he afterward added 
hundreds of concubines from idolatrous nations, such as the Sidonians, 
Tyrians, Ammonites and Edomites, though he was inconsistent enough 
to order that none of his people should marry except among themselves. 
These foreign wives and concubines exerted the greatest influence upon 
him, to the extent of weaning him entirely from God, and causing him to 
worship their idols. Having started upon the downward road, his descent 
was rapid, and the unhappy end could now be plainly foreseen. 

When the king’s conduct had become so profligate as to excite the 
fears of all Israel, God sent a prophet to warn him against his misdoings, 
and to tell him also that while the kingdom should not be 
taken from him during his life, it would be rent after his 
death, and that his son would succeed to the rulership of 
only one of the twelve tribes. This prophecy greatly grieved Solomon, 
though he made no effort to amend his ways. 

An enemy was soon raised up against the king in the person of 
Hadad, who had married a sister of Pharaoh, and whose aid and sympathy 
he received. This man, learning of affairs in Israel, joined what forces 


The kingdom 
of Israel is 
divided. 


3^8 The Lord Stirred up an Adversary unto Solomon . 

he could muster with a robber named Rezon, and conquering Syria was 
proclaimed king thereof. About this time, Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, 
was prompted by the advice of a prophet named Abijah to make a 
revolt against Solomon. This prophet rent his mantle into twelve pieces, 



and bade Jeroboam take ten of 
them as a sign that he should 
become king over ten tribes of AND AI<I< THE eiders of israee came. — i Kings 8. 3. 
Israel. Jeroboam thereupon in- 
cited a rebellion against Solomon. The king, hearing of Jeroboam’s treason, 
The death of sent men to arrest him, but he fled to Shishak, king of Egypt, 
Solomon. under whose protection he remained only a short while before 
Solomon died. Solomon ruled forty years and was buried with the usual 
royal ceremonies in Jerusalem. 


CHAPTER XVII. 



And the king answered the people roughly , and forsook the old 
men's counsel. 

s ISDOM had been God’s gift to Solomon, to which great 
riches were added, but this quality of mind did not 
remain to the end of his days, for in his latter years 
he became dreadfully corrupted, and while thus weaken- 
ing his physical powers by shameful indulgences, he lost 
his influence among the people. So unpopular indeed was Solomon at the 
time of his death that when his son Relioboam attempted to ascend the 
throne the people rejected him, after exacting a promise of how, in the 
event of his reign, he proposed to rule the country. The bitterness of 
the people was so great against him that he fled in his chariot to Jeru- 
salem, where he was proclaimed king by the tribes of Judah and of 
Benjamin, who had not participated in the revolt. All the other ten 
tribes now sent for Jeroboam, who upon his coming to them, was made 
their ruler, and established his seat of empire at Shechem, where he built 
a palace. Rehoboam tried to raise an army of 180,000 men to drive out 
Jeroboam, but the prophet Shemaiah restrained him by advising him of 
God’s displeasure at such an act, which would be causing brothers of 
the same country to fight against one another. 

The two kings ruled Israel under constant dread of each other, and 
though there was no war it was an armed peace. Affairs thus continued 
for a few months, until the Feast of Tabernacles, when it 

’ Jeroboam 

was customary for all the Hebrews to visit the Temple at sets up golden 
Jerusalem to worship and make their sacrifices. Jeroboam ima s es and is 
very wisely concluded that if those tribes over which he P un,shed - 
was ruling should go to Jerusalem they would fall into the power of 
Rehoboam, who might persuade them to abandon him, and to prevent 
this possible result he invented a contrivance whereby his people might 

(359) 


360 


Art Thou the Man of God that Camest from Judah? 



worship without going to Jerusalem. He accordingly had two golden 
heifers cast, and making a temple for each, set one up in Bethel and the 
other in Dan. He then made a speech to the people, telling them that 
God had His abode in every place and it was therefore unnecessary that 

they should 
make a long 
journey to Je- 
rusalem to 
worship Him. 
He reminded 
them that it 
was only a 
man who had 
built the Tem- 
ple, and that 
he had like- 
wise made two 
golden heifers 
and dedicated 
them to God, 
together with 
temples conse- 
crated to God, 
and had pro- 
vided priests 

xiE FORSOOK THE COUNSEL OF THE 

old men . . . and consulted and Levites to 
WITH THE YOUNG MEN.— I Kings 12. 8 . 

minister to 

them. This speech satisfied the ten tribes and 
they had no desire to go to Jerusalem ; but 
V w'hen the day of ceremony arrived, Jeroboam 

built an altar before one of the heifers and undertook to be a high-priest 
himself. As he w T as going to offer the sacrifices a prophet named Jadon, 
who had come from Jerusalem, stood up in the midst of the people and 
prophesied that a certain man of the name of Josiah, from the family 


Thy Carcass Shall Not Come Unto the Sepulchers of Thy Fathers . 361 

of David, would be sent by God to punish these false priests and the 
deceivers of the people, and as a sign of the fulfillment of his words he 
declared that the altar should be immediately broken to pieces and all 
the fat of the sacrifices upon it be poured upon the ground. At this 
prophecy Jeroboam stretched out his hand and asked the people to grasp 
it, but instantly his arm was paralyzed and hung down limp by his side, 
while the altar was scattered and broken as the prophet had foretold. Jero- 
boam now prayed that his arm might be restored, which the prophet 
graciously did, but refused to accept his invitation to sup with him, having 
been ordered by God not to tarry in the city, nor to return by the same 
way he came. 

When Jadon had gone out of Bethel, on his way to Jerusalem, a certain 
false prophet, who was in the esteem of Jeroboam, though enfeebled by age 
and infirmity, fearing that the true prophet might supplant j adon is dc _ 
him in the king’s affection, had his ass quickly saddled and stroyed by a 
set out to overtake Jadon and bring him back to Bethel, that 
he might cause him to transgress God’s commands. The false prophet 
overtook Jadon as he was sitting beneath an oak-tree resting. Saluting 
him graciously he begged to know why Jadon had not stopped to sup 
with him, seeing that he, too, was a prophet worshiping the same God. 
Jadon excused himself by saying that God had forbidden him to tarry or 
sup in any man’s house in Bethel. At this the false prophet importuned 
him the more, and at length induced Jadon to return with him to his home 
and to stay over night. 

While the two were making themselves merry at supper, God appeared 
to Jadon and told him that he should suffer the iniquity of his disobe- 
dience, and foretold also the manner in which it should be. When, therefore, 
Jadon resumed his journey in the morning he was met in the highway by a 
lion, which pulled him off the animal he was riding, and after killing him 
sat beside the body until some travelers came by and discovered what 
had been done. 

The false prophet begged of the sons of Jadon, when they came out 
to get the remains of their father, to give them sepulture, that when he 
himself should die, his body might be laid in the grave with so good and 


362 There was War Between Rehoboam and Jeroboam All Their Days. 



divine a man as Jadon had been ; but when he saw Jeroboam he per- 
suaded him that Jadon had been an impostor whom God had punished 
for his wicked pretences. He thus gained the favor of Jadon’s sons, and 
also of the king, who, believing all that had been told him, continued in 
his wickedness. 

Rehoboam, being left unmolested for a long time, governed with such 
wisdom as not only made him very popular among his own subjects but also 

ained him the 
Ivor of the 
evites and 
others of 
Jero- 
boam’s 
people 
who es- 
teemed the 
sa c r i fi c e s 
made at 
Bethel as 
sacri leg- 
ious. As his 
power increased 
by accessions 
from the ten tribes, Rehoboam ex- 

HE FOUND HIS CARCASS CAST IN THE WAY, AND THE 

ass and the won standing b* the carcass.— tended his kingdom and built many 

1 Kings 13. 28. J 

cities, which he provisioned with 
corn, wine and oil, and garrisoned them with troops as a measure of 
safety. 

Soon after reaching the throne Rehoboam married a Jewish woman, 
by whom he had three children, but, like the other leaders of Israel, he 
was not content with one wife, and accordingly married seventeen others. 
His second wife, however, was of his kindred, a double half-cousin, 
so to speak, for she was the daughter of Absalom. By this woman, 
whose name was Maachah, he had a son whom he called Abijah ( son of 


g 

fs 

L 




He Took the Fenced Cities which Pertained to Judah. 363 

Jehovah), and because of his exceeding love for Maachah,he designated this 
son as his successor and gave him charge of all the cities of his kingdom, 
and of his treasures. 

The eighteen wives and thirty concubines which Rehoboam had, bore 
him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters, a manifest evidence of the 
same passion that had characterized Solomon and David, and which led 
to the same disastrous results. Having given himself to all manner of 
excesses, he forgot the goodness of God and became so wicked that he 
contaminated his subjects until Israel had become as perverse and iniquitous 
as were the Canaanites or Ammonites. 

God would not permit such wickedness to go unpunished, but instead 
of afflicting the people with His own hand He sent Shishak, king of 
Egypt, to invade the country and lay it waste. This king shishak cap- 
fed an army comprising twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand tores jerusa- 
horsemen and four hundred thousand foot soldiers, the greater 
part being composed of Ethiopians and Libyans. This invasion occurred 
during the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, and considering the size and con- 
dition of his family at this time, we obtain an idea how rapid Rehoboam’s 
descent had been from that of a high-born ruler to the slave of the most 
despicable passions. 

Shishak’s march through Judah was almost unopposed. He cap- 
tured city after city, and garrisoning them with his own troops, continued 
the invasion until he reached the gates of Jerusalem. He laid siege to 
Israel’s capital, and was not long in reducing the inhabitants to such straits 
for food that they surrendered without resistance. This result was hastened 
by the prophecy of Shemaiah, who told Rehoboam that God had forsaken 
him for his iniquity, and had determined to deliver him and his people into 
the hands of the Egyptians to be slaves. 

When Shishak was admitted into Jerusalem he set his soldiers upon 
the Temple, from which they took all the treasure, not sparing even the 
bucklers and shields of gold which Solomon had made, nor the golden 
quiver David had taken from the king of Zobali and dedicated to God. 
With the enormous riches obtained from the Temple, Shishak was con- 
tent, for they were very much greater than he had expected to find, and he 


364 So Shishak . . . Took Away the Treasures of the Flonse of the Lord \ 


therefore returned to Egypt without subjecting the Israelites to the bondage 
which Shemaiah had prophesied. But Rehoboam, though escaping slavery, 
had lost all his glory, and never recovered his former power. He retained 



his crown, however, twelve years 
after Shishak’s invasion, though 
a portion of his kingdom was taken 
from him. He died at the age 
of fifty-seven years, and was buried 
in the royal sepulchre at Jerusa- 

AND THE HAGARITES W^RE DEEWERED INTO THEIR ^ and was SUCcee ded by Abijah, 

who was now scarcely fifteen years 
old. While affairs in Judah were so calamitous, the ten tribes under 
Jeroboam, though escaping Shishak’s invasion into Israel, were in little 
more promising condition. The king continued to disregard the convenants 


365 


The Wife of Jeroboam Cometh to Ask a Thing of Thee. 

of his father, and made sacrifices to images at Bethel, which finally brought 
him to a fate even worse than that to which Rehoboam was reduced. 

Jeroboam had a son by a wife whom he had married from among his 
own people, who was called Abijah, being the same name that Rehoboam 
had given to the heir to his throne. This son having fallen very ill, 
Jeroboam sent his wife to Shiloh to inquire of a prophet, named Ahijah, 
whether the child should recover. Before going, however, he charged her 
to put on a disguise, so that the prophet might not know, when she should 
come into his presence, that she was the queen. But disguise did not serve 
to conceal her identity from the holy man, whose eyesight, though dim, 
discovered to him, through revelation from God, who she was, and also the 
purpose of her visit. When, therefore, upon the moment she appeared 
before the prophet, he told her that he knew she was the wife of Jeroboam, 
come to ask concerning whether her child should live. He therefore 
prophesied that her son should be dead before she could return to her home, 
and that Jeroboam himself should be punished by being dethroned, and all 
his household given to dogs and fowls for food. Moreover, he added, the 
people themselves should be scattered into places beyond the Euphrates, 
being first overcome by a king who would be raised to the throne by 
appointment. 

All these things came to pass as the Shiloh prophet had predicted. 
When his wife returned to Jeroboam she found her child dead, but this 
verification of the prophecy did not incline the king to mend 
his ways, for the projects he now conceived only hastened his 
downfall. Despising the youth and opposition of Abijah, he 
fitted out an expedition against Judah, consisting of 800,000 men, and 
marched to Mount Zemarain, where he was met by an army of about one- 
half the size of his own, at the head of which was the youthful king of 
Judah. While the two armies were in battle array Abijah stood in an 
elevated place and begged Jeroboam and his people to hear first what he 
had to say. He then made a speech before the two armies, in which he 
reminded the people that God had appointed David and his descendants to 
rule over Israel, and consequently that Jeroboam was wrongfully in pos- 
session of the crown, but that God would not much longer suffer him to 


A slaughter of 
500,000 men. 



366 Jeroboam Caused an Ambushment to Come About Behind Them. 

thus reign and divide the twelve tribes. He also charged Jeroboam with 
sacrilege in offering burnt-offerings and worshiping golden heifers, which 
God would certainly punish. While he was thus talking, Jeroboam 


YE SHAEE NOT GO UP, NOR FIGHT AGAINST YOUR BRETHREN.— 2 Chron. II. 4. 


secretly sent a portion of his army to surround Abijah’s camp, and fell 
upon him with such suddenness that the young king’s army was on the point 
of a panic. Abijah’s bravery and exhortation rallied them, however, and 
after a great battle he routed Jeroboam’s forces with a loss unparalleled in 


3 67 


Abijah Waxed Mighty , and Married Fourteen Wives. 



all history, for there were slain of Jeroboam’s army 500,000 men. This 
victory was followed by the capture of Bethel and other important cities, 
until Jeroboam was reduced to a position little above that of a vassal. 

Abijah did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his victory, or to 
bestow upon his people the j- 
benefits of that wisdom and 
courage which he so earl 
manifested. But his history 
clouded by the same vic< 
which distinguished his pred 
cessors, for though he reigne 
only three years, 
and had therefore 
not attained his 
majority at the 
time of his death, 
yet he was married 
to fourteen wives 
and left behind 
him twenty-two 
sons and sixteen 
daughters. He 
was succeeded by 
his son Asa, under 
whom the country 
had peace for ten 
years. 

Jeroboam sur- 
vived Abijah only 

two years, after governing the ten tribes for a period of twenty-two 
years. His successor was his son Nadab, a foolish and wicked young 
man, who met his death, two years after he had assumed the throne, at 
the hand of one of Abijah’s sons, Baasha by name. After killing Nadab, 
Baasha took the crown, and his first act thereafter was to destroy the 


HK REMOVED HER FROM BEING QUEEN. — 2 Chron. 15. 16. 


368 The Lord Smote the Ethiopians Before Asa and Before Judah. 

entire house of Jeroboam. Those whom he kille.d in the cities were given 
to dogs to eat, while those slain in the fields were allowed to remain 
where they had fallen, as food for fowls, thus fulfilling the predictions 
of the prophet of Shiloh. 

Asa was a man altogether different in disposition from those who 
had ruled before him. Instead of giving himself up to the vices which 
Asa’s great had so often caused the downfall of Israel’s kings, he 
victory over the devoted himself to doing that which was good for his peo- 
Egyptians. p]^ an d observing God’s laws. The dangers by which he 
was surrounded caused him to look to the safety of his kingdom, and he 
therefore raised an army of defence, consisting of three hundred thousand 
men of Judah, and two hundred and fifty thousand Benjaminites, who 
were admirably equipped with spears, shields and bows. Besides organiz- 
ing so large an army he added new defences to Jerusalem, and having 
thus provided so well against foes he ruled in peace and with great 
wisdom and piety for ten years. At the end of this period, however, 
Zerah, king of Ethiopia, undertook an expedition against him at the head 
of nine hundred thousand footmen, one hundred thousand cavalry and 
three hundred chariots. Asa heard of the invaders before they had 
reached the boundary of his country, and making preparations hastily, 
went out to meet them. The two armies came in sight of each other in 
a valley, called Zephathah, which was only a short distance from Jerusa- 
lem. When Asa saw the magnitude of Zerah’s army he recited a prayer 
to God that he might be given the victory, to which petition a gracious 
reply was made. 

Strengthened by God’s assurance, Asa began the battle, and with such 
valor and impetuosity that the enemy was speedily defeated with the 
loss of many thousands. As the Ethiopians retreated, Asa pursued them 
as far as Gerar, taking such a vast quantity of spoils that his soldiers 
returned to Jerusalem heavily laden with the things they had captured. 

When Baasha had increased the power of the ten tribes somewhat, 
and had built himself a strong city at Tirzah, he became so dreadfully 
impious that God sent the prophet Jehu to warn him of the punishment 
which awaited his wickedness. But Baasha disregarded all these warnings, 


Baasha Came Up Against Jndak and Built Rani ah. 


369 


and continued to lead a life like that which had distinguished Jeroboam. 
He also became vain-glorious, and in a spirit of bravado took his army 
and laid siege to Ramah, which is only five miles from Jerusalem. 



Having effected its capture, 
he fortified and garrisoned 
the place as a menace to 
Asa, and as a defiance 
to that power which Asa 
acknowledged and wor- 
shiped. 

To circumvent Baasha 
without going to war with 
him, as it was not proper 
that the Hebrews should 

fight among themselves, Asa sent ambassadors to the king of Damascus — 
who was an ally of Baasha — with a vast treasure of gold and silver to 
purchase his friendship, and to induce him to fight Baasha. The king 
of Damascus was mercenary enough to accept the reward, upon the 


AND THEY TAUGHT IN JUDAH. — 
2 Chrou. 17. 9. 


370 


Thus Did Zimri Destroy all the House of Baasha. 



conditions imposed by Asa, and he took his army and laid siege to several 
cities which Baasha had left poorly protected, and captured some that 
were of the greatest importance to the king of Israel. This attack 
from a new enemy caused Baasha to abandon Ramah and return to Tirzah, 

where he soon afterwards died. 

His son 
Elah suc- 
ceeded him, 


JUDAH AND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM FEED BEFORE THE LORD. — 2 Chron. 20. 18. 

but after a reign of two years was treacherously assassinated by Zimri, 
a commander of one-half the king’s army. 

Zimri then seized the throne and put to death every one of Baasha’s 
household, just as Baasha had those of the house of Jeroboam. Zimri, 
however, was not permitted to rule unmolested. A large portion of the 
army, while laying siege to Gibbethon, would not acknowledge Zimri, and 


He Bought the Hill Samaria of Shenier for Two Talents of Silver . 371 

proclaimed Omri their king. As soon as he had been thus declared, he 
drew off his army from Gibbethon and went to Tirzah for the purpose 
of seizing Zimri, who, however, anticipated his coming, and zimri perishes 
fled into a secret room of his palace. He had hoped that in his P a,ace * 
some of his guards would defend him, but, finding that no one espoused 
his cause, he set fire to the palace and miserably perished in the flames. 

Omri was no more righteous than had been Jeroboam, nor more 
fortunate than Elah or Zimri, for he in turn was assassinated by one of 
his own household. The crown, however, was permitted to descend to his 
posterity, he being succeeded by his son Ahab. 

Asa continued to rule the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin for a 
period of forty-one years, during which time his kingdom was greatly 
strengthened, and his people remained in increasing prosperity. His 
death was the occasion of intense sorrow throughout all Judah, and he 
was buried in Jerusalem with all the pomp and funeral rites that were 
shown by the Israelites at the burial of David. Asa was succeeded by 
his son Jehoshaphat, who was born to him by his wife Azubah. Whether 
he had any other wives or not the Bible does not tell us, but we may 
very justly infer, from the success of his reign and the high favor by 
which he was held by God that he was never married to any other 
woman. 

The kings succeeding to the throne of the ten tribes learned no wisdom 
from the crimes and punishments of their predecessors, but continued in the 
same follies. Ahab was more wicked, if possible, than Jero- Ahab's 
boam, Zimri or Omri, eschewing all good and following all wicked reign, 
manner of wickedness. He married shortly after coming to the throne, 
but instead of taking a Jewish woman, according to the written law of 
Moses, he wedded a daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Tyrians and Sidonians, 
who were idolaters. This woman’s name was Jezebel, a proud and 
infamously wicked creature, who brought to her husband for his adoption 
the practices of her idolatrous people. One of her first acts, after 
becoming queen, was to build a temple for the god Belus, around which 
she had a beautiful garden made. She also appointed a large number of 
priests and false prophets, and otherwise sought to impress the people 


372 Ahab did More to Provoke the Lord than All the Kings of Israel, 



with the divine nature of this idol. In all these things she was assisted 
by Ahab, who was pleased at this means for manifesting the wickedness 
in his heart. Samaria was Ahab’s seat of government, and it was here 
that the altars for - idolatry were 

erected; but beside these altars he 

dedicated a grove to the revolting or- 

gies of Ashtaroth, 
and established a 
college for his 
false prophets in 
the grove where 
four hundred were 
kept under in- 
struction, besides 
four hundred and 
fifty other pro- 
phetical priests 
who predicted for 
the king. All of 
these were fed by 
Jezebel, who held 
them in such reverential re- 
gard that she ordered her 
officers to put to death all 
the true prophets of God. 
This order was the cause of great sorrow, 
and in the end the destruction of this 
dreadful woman. Obadiah was the gov- 
ernor of Ahab’s house, but, though sur- 
rounded by the most evil of influences, 
he still retained a godly spirit and was true to the laws of Moses and 
of Joshua. When, therefore, Jezebel’s order was issued, Obadiah sought 
out many of the true prophets and apprised them of their danger ; he 
also hid one hundred in a cave and supplied them with food, trusting 


AND THE RAVENS BROUGHT HIM BREAD 
AND FUESH. — r Kings 17. 6 


There Shall Not Be Dew or Rain These Years . 


373 



to the Lord for their and his own protection. This was the darkest 
hour that had yet fallen on Israel, when we are told that there were not 
above seven thousand who acknowledged Jehovah, all the others of this 
mighty nation and ten tribes having given themselves up to the worship 
of idols, and to iniquities of every kind. The day of retribution was now 
near at hand, for God could no longer suffer Ahab to continue in his 
corrupting vices. He accordingly sent a 
great prophet, named Elijah, a Tishbite, 
to the king, to tell him 
that his iniquities 
should be punished by 
a famine that would 
oppress all the 
land, for no rain 
should fall for 
three or more 
years, or until the 
king became hum- 
bled and left off 
his wicked ways. 

This prophecy 
made Ahab very 
angry, and he 
would have killed 

Eliiah had the FEAR NOT ; GO AND DO AS THOU hast 

J SAID. — 2 Kings 17. 13. 

prophet not obeyed 

God’s instructions to flee into the wilderness 
and there remain hidden by a brook. While Elijah was thus in hiding, 
God sent ravens to feed him both morning and evening. He remained 
beside the brook for several months, and until, by reason of the failure 
of rain, it dried up, when he was told by the Lord to go to a city named 
Zarephath, where he would meet a widow woman that would furnish him 
with food. As Elijah was approaching the gate of Zarephath he met a 
woman gathering sticks, and accosting her, begged a cup of water and a piece 


374 The Barrel of Meal shall not Waste , nor the Cruse of Oil Fail. 

of bread, to which request she replied that all the food remaining in her 
house, was a handful of meal and a little oil, which she was on the point 
of preparing for herself and son, believing that she must starve when 
this was gone. Elijah thereupon bade her be of good cheer and to bake 
the meal, of which she should give him a small cake, assuring her that 
God would not allow her store to decrease during the famine. The 
woman now did as the prophet had requested, and when she had baked 
the bread and given a part to Elijah and made another cake for 
herself, she saw that there still remained as much meal and oil as before, 
nor was the store in any wise diminished during the remaining years of 
famine. When Elijah had remained with the widow fora long while, thus 
sustained by God’s providence, the woman’s son fell ill, and soon afterward 
died. She thereupon fell to lamenting, and giving expression to her fears 
that the death of her only child was sent as a punishment upon her for 
harboring a prophet whose life the king had condemned. Elijah now asked 
her to give the body into his charge, and taking it up to his room in the 
house, he prayed God to restore the child, and to take away the evil from the 
good woman who had fostered His servant, and in all things had been so 
upright and charitable. The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer by renewing 
the child’s life and giving him back to his bereaved mother. 

When the famine had lasted three years and the people of all 
Israel were dying of starvation, God sent Elijah up to Ahab to manifest 
Elijah manifests ^is power, and wean the people from their idolatry. While 
his power on his way to Samaria the prophet met Obadiah, whom he 
before Ahab. or d erec [ to go and tell Ahab of his presence; but Obadiah 
refused at first to carry such a message, because, he declared, that Ahab 
had searched his kingdom for all true prophets that he might slay 
them ; besides, if he should inform the king of the prophet’s presence 
and the king should not be able to find him, he himself would be 
put to death as a messenger of false news. After some persuasion, 
however, Obadiah informed Ahab of Elijah’s desire to have an audience 
with him, and when the prophet came into the king’s presence he told 
him that the Lord would now show to him the impotence of the idols of 
Baal and the power of the true God. He asked the king, therefore, to 


Gather To Me All Israel Unto Mount Carmel. 


375 



call all his people and his prophets together at Mount Carmel, where 
God would manifest to him the power he had declared. Ahab did as 
Elijah had requested, and assembled a vast multitude of his subjects on 
the mount, besides the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, who had 
come to exhibit the wonders which they believed their god to be capable 
of performing. When 
the vast concourse of 
people were brought 
together, Elijah ad- 
dressed them and 
asked how long they 
would serve false 
gods, that could do 
nothing for them, and 
reject the living God to whom they 
owed everything. He said, if Je- 
hovah be the true God then the}' 
should worship Him alone, but if 
Baal be God then it were meet that 
they should obey him, but that he 
would this day show to them who 
was the God of gods. So saying, 

Elijah ordered that two bullocks 
be slain, one to be laid upon the 
altar of Baal, and the other laid 
upon the altar which he had built 
to God. When this was done he 
called upon the four hundred and 
fifty prophets of Baal to pray to their god to send fire to burn up their 
offering, as a sign of his power and acceptance of the sacrifice. The 
prophets thereupon fell to praying until the day was well spent, but 
though they cried in a very loud voice and performed many curious 
ceremonies, their sacrifice remained unconsumed, and no answer came to 
them from their idol. Elijah now mocked them with such suggestions 


AND HE TOOK THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH . . AND 
SMOTE the WATERS.— 2 Kings 2. 14. 


376 With the Stones He Built an Altar in the Name of the Lord . 



as, “ Cry louder, perhaps Baal cannot hear, or is asleep, or his spirit may 
be absent on a journey.” 

When the prophets of Baal were unable to arouse their god, and 
were in a shameful condition of mind because of their failure before the 

people, Eli- 
jah asked 
that a bul- 
1 o c k be 
placed upon 
the altar of 
wood which 
he had erect- 
ed. He also 
requested 
that twelve 
barrels of 
water be 
brought and 
poured upon 
the wood un- 
til the trench 
that was dug 
around it 
should be 

BEHOLD, THERE ARISETH A LITTLE rii 1 'II7L, 
CLOUD OUT OF THE SEA.— 1 Kings 18. 44. Uliea. W Uen 

all this was 

done Elijah bowed himself in prayer to 
God, whom he petitioned for a manifesta- 
tion of His holy power, that all the people 
might know who was the living and true God, that they might destroy 
their idols and return to the worship of Jehovah, who had brought them 
out of bondage and established them in the land promised to Moses, 
Abraham and Jacob. While he was thus praying a fire came out of 
heaven and descended upon the altar, which it burned up, together with 


Elijah Brought Them Down to the Brook Kishon and Slew Them. 377 



the water that was in the trenches ; seeing which wondrous thing the 
people fell upon their knees, crying, “ The Lord, He is God ! The Lord, 
He is God !” When he saw all the people bowing in adoration of the 
true God, he commanded them to seize all the false prophets, and bring 
them to the brook Kishon, where, according to what God had told him to 
do, he put them all to the sword. When the 

sacrifices had been made L f Elijah told Ahab that 

rain would soon be \ 




AND ELIJAH TOOK THE CHILD, AND BROUGHT HIM DOWN.— i Kings 17. 23. 

sent upon the land again, and the famine would speedily abate ; so Ahab 
retired to the side of Mount Carmel while Elijah went on top and prayed 
to God that rain might fall and nourish the parched earth, Elijah is 
now so long barren. While he prayed he sent his servant persecuted 

to a higher point of the mountain, to inform him if by Jezebel, 

any clouds were visible in the sky. The servant returned telling him 
that the sky was like brass and no cloud visible. Elijah sent him 


37 8 


Get Thee Down , that the Rain Stop Thee Not . 



up again, and six times did the servant return with the same answer, 
but the seventh time of his going up he told the prophet that he 
saw a cloud rising out of the sea, but it appeared no larger than a 
man’s hand. Elijah, however, knew by this sign that the rain was near 
at hand, so he told Ahab to make ready his chariot and return quickly to 
Samaria, for that a heavy rain would soon fall over all the land. Ahab 

started at once for the city, 
accompanied by Elijah, who 
ran before the king’s chariot 
to the gate of the city. As 
they came within the place a 
terrible wind storm sprang up 
which filled the sky with dark 
clouds that hung like an 
inky pall over the whole 
land, and soon the rain 
began to fall until it swept 
down in torrents, as if 
God had resolved again 
to destroy the earth. But 
when all the country was 
refreshed the rain abated, 
the sun broke forth again, 
and the people rejoiced 
that they had been thus 
delivered from a famine 
that had oppressed them 
for three and one-half years. When Jezebel was told of the things which 
Elijah had done, and how he had caused the death of her prophets, she 
Elijah flees to sent officers of her court in pursuit, with instructions to kill 
Beersheba. him. But Elijah was forewarned of the conspiracy against 
his life, and fled to Beersheba, which was on the boundary of Judah. He 
remained here only a short time when he learned that there was no 
greater safety for him among the people of Beersheba than among those 


WOULD GOD MY LORD WERE WITH THE PROPHET THAT IS IN 
SAMARIA 1—2 Kings 5 . 3 . 



As He Lay . . . Under' a Juniper Tree ... an Angel Touched Him. 379 


of Jezreel, so he fled to the desert. His wanderings through the waste 
lands of Judah were accompanied so much distress and fear of starva- 
tion that he prayed for death, since being pursued on every hand by 
enemies he could obtain neither rest nor peace. Worried thus and 
exhausted b}' hunger, he fell asleep under a large 
tree whose friendly branches were his only covering; A 

he was awak- 
ened after some 
hours of rest, 
and found set 
before him a 
vessel of water 
and a bowl < 3 f 
food, with 
which he satis- 
fied his hunger 
and thirst, and 
then arose and 
went to Horeb. 

Here he found 
a cave in which 
he made his 
abode, because 
it was a place 
seldom visited 
by any one, 
and therefore 

offered to him ) a safe retreat. One day, 

while lying within the depths of the cave, he 

heard a voice asking why he had chosen this solitude for his habitation : 
to which he replied, not knowing to whom the voice belonged, that it was 
because his life was sought by the wicked Jezebel. Another voice now told 
him to come out of the cave on the next day and it would instruct him 
what to do, for God would take care of his servants. Elijah came out, as 


AND THE ANGEE . . . SAID, ARISE 

AND EAT —1 Kings 19. 7. 


380 Elijah Passed by Him and Cast His Mantle Upon Him. 

he had been bidden, and as he approached the light he saw a brightness 
like that of a great fire, while the earth shook beneath his feet and a 
voice was again heard, commanding him to return home, and ordain Jehu 
to be king over his own people, and Hazel of Damascus to be over the 
Syrians, to whom should be given an order to slay the impious multitude ; 
but he was also told to appoint Elisha, of the city of Abel, a prophet in his 
stead, for the Lord was about to do a wonderful thing to him. When Elijah 
heard these instructions he returned to Gilead, and soon after found Elisha 
plowing, and other laborers in the field driving twelve yoke of oxen. 
Immediately he cast his mantle upon Elisha as a token that he had been 
appointed a prophet of God, and the latter began forthwith to prophesy, 
and taking leave of his parents became a follower of Elijah. 

Shortly after Elijah’s return to his country Ahab and Jezebel per- 
petrated a crime which brought upon them the vengeance of God — 
though not immediately — and a punishment which brought an end to 
their iniquities. 

There was a man named Naboth who had a vineyard that adjoined 
one of the king’s fields, and was very near the royal residence. Ahab 
was anxious to possess this piece of ground so as to enlarge his gar- 
dens, but when he went to purchase it Naboth refused to sell it for 
Ahab has any sum of money, or to exchange it for any other parcels 
Naboth stoned. w pi c h the king offered, valuing the vineyard thus highly 
because it was an inheritance from his father. Ahab’s disappointment 
was such that he fell into a melancholy mood, and refused food for some 
time. Seeing him thus depressed Jezebel asked the cause, and learning 
that it was because of Naboth’s refusal to sell the vineyard, she encour- 
aged him not to be troubled over so small a matter, and that she would 
yet obtain for him the coveted ground. Accordingly, she sent letters 
to all the judges among the Jezreelites, in Ahab’s name, commanding 
them to fast and afterward to assemble in council and bring Naboth 
before them, upon the charge of having blasphemed God and the king, 
and to have three witnesses to prove Naboth’s transgressions. She also 
ordered that upon his being found guilty he should be stoned to death, 
and that his vineyard should be given to the king as a forfeit. By this 


The Dogs Shall Eat Jezebel by the Wall of fezreel. 381 



infamous order Naboth was taken and stoned to death and Ahab fell into 
possession of the ground ; but he was not permitted to enjoy his new prop- 
erty* for God sent Elijah to reproach him for his crime, and to prophesy 
that in the very place where Naboth’s blood had been licked by dogs 
both his own blood and that of his wife should be shed, and the body of 
the latter should be eaten also by dogs. 

When Ahah heard this prediction he 
was exceed- 
ingly sorry 
for what he 
had done, 
and putting 
on sackcloth 
he refrained 
from food 
and prayed 
earnestly to 
God for for- 
gi v e n e s s . 

The hurnil- \ 
ity which 
Ahab exhib- 
ited was so 
great that 
God sent Elijah to 
him that He would not 
destroy his lamily at THE MEN OF BELIAI< witnessed against him. — 1 Kings 21. 13. 
once, as He had intended, 

but would not withhold his wrath from Ahab’s son. In all the things 
which Ahab did he was held less responsible because they were 
prompted rather by his wicked wife than by his own propensities, 
for Jezebel was so bold, and of such a strong mind, that she exer- 
cised the most potent influence upon Ahab and was, indeed, the supreme 


ruler. 



382 My Lord , (9 King , According to Thy Saying , / Thine. 

The king of Syria at this time was Benhadad, of Damascus, a 
proud and insolent person, who was so ambitious to extend his dominion 
that he engaged thirty-two mercenary kings from beyond the Euphrates and 
made an expedition against Ahab, with the intention of wresting the 
kingdom of Israel from him and adding it to his 

own. He soon invested the city of Sa- 
maria, and v&mti W'Afi ' then sent am- 

i bassadors to 

| I Ahab to inform 


THE KING OF ISRAEL, WAS PASSING 
BY UPON THE WAIyE. — 2 Kings 6. 26. 


him if he would surrender all his riches, together with all his wives and 
children, that the siege would be raised and the city spared. Ahab was 
in such great fear of Benhadad, on account of the enormous army that he 
had thrown around Samaria, that he returned a most abject answer, saying 
all that he possessed would be freely given if Benhadad would but spare 


Let Not Him that Girdeth on His Harness Boast Himself. 383 

the place. This servility of Ahab inspired Benhadad to enlarge his 
requests ; so he dispatched his ambassadors a second time, to tell Ahab 
to deliver to the servants, whom he would send, all the valuable things 
that were in the city, and that he should permit them to search the palace 
and all the houses of his friends and kindred and to take what they pleased. 

Ahab now assembled his people together and told them that he was 
willing to surrender to Benhadad all his own possessions and also his 
wives and children for the safety of the city, but that the Syrian king 
had now demanded that he be permitted to search all houses for treasure 
and to take everything which might please him, so he asked the people 
for their advice as to what he should do. With one accord they recom- 
mended resistance, and advised him to return an answer that his demands 
were rejected, which Ahab accordingly did. 

When Benhadad received the king’s answer he sent his ambassadors 
a third time with such terrible threats that he supposed Ahab would be 
more humble than before; but in this he was disappointed, 

1 1 1 . Ahab defeats 

and the siege was renewed with greater energy and m many thg Syrians 
different ways, until Ahab was upon the point of despairing. 

But when his fears were greatest a prophet came to him and declared that 
if he would but give the leadership to the sons of the princes in Samaria 
he should gain a victory over the enemy. This advice encouraged Ahab, 
so that he sent for the men designated, who numbered two hundred -and 
thirty-two persons, to go to the Syrians when they were found feasting, 
trusting to God for the success of their undertaking, not knowing himself 
how they were going to make the attack. The princes’ sons went out 
of the gates of Samaria at night and came upon the Syrians while they 
were too drunk to offer resistance, and falling on them suddenly killed a 
great number and put the others to flight. Seeing the enemy in retreat 
Ahab now followed after them with his soldiers and continued the slaughter 
for a long while, capturing everything in the Syrian camp and taking the 
king’s chariots and a vast amount of gold and silver, with which he 
returned to the city. 

In the following spring Benhadad raised another army and went again 
against Ahab, but with no better success than before. The two armies 


3^4 


Thy Servant Benhadad saith , I Pray Thee Let Me Live . 

met in a great plain near the city of Aphek, where they remained inactive, 
watching each other for seven days. At the end of seven days Ahab 
began the battle, and after some sharp fighting routed Benhadad and slew 
one hundred thousand of his men. The others fled to Aphek for protec- 
Benhadad sup- tion ^ ut ^ walls of this city fell upon them, killing twenty- 
piicates for seven thousand more. Benhadad himself, however, succeeded 

mercy. j n esca pi n g by taking refuge in a cave, where he remained 

for several days, and until hunger drove him forth. Learning that Ahab 
was a merciful and humane man, and finding his retreat cut off from all 
sides, Benhadad at length clothed himself in sackcloth and putting a rope 
about his neck as a sign of his helplessness, he went to the king of 
Israel and made a supplication for mercy. Ahab received him graciously, 
and not only promised to spare his life but bade him to come up to his 
chariot and kissed him affectionately ; nor did he cease with these 
kindnesses but promised to restore to him his cities and his rule over 
Damascus. 

A certain prophet, named Micaiah, learning of Ahab’s generous action, 
made use of an artifice to come before the king ; and when he had gained 
his presence delivered himself of a prophecy to the effect that God, being 
displeased with Ahab for having so mercifully pardoned and covenanted 
with the blasphemer Benhadad, would requite his act by delivering him 
into the hands of other enemies, by whom he should be killed. Ahab 
was much distressed at this prophecy, though he ordered that the prophet 
be cast into prison and there kept until he should see proper to liberate 
him. 

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was a wise and righteous ruler, unlike 
jehoshaphat and his predecessors in all things, and his kingdom grew amaz- 
the progress of ingly in consequence. One of his first acts was to put his 

his kingdom. country in a state of perfect defence, which he accomplished 

by raising a very great army, consisting of three hundred thousand men 
of the tribe of Judah, who were provided with armor, and over whom 
Adnah was appointed chief ; he had, besides, two hundred thousand 
archers commanded by Jehu, and one hundred and eighty thousand foot 
soldiers, well armed, and commanded by Jehozabad. This great army was 


He Made Peace with the King of Israel. 


385 



have had, 
power, as 
favor of all 
liberal gifts, 


kept constantly ready for the king’s service. But these did not comprise 
all his fighting force, for he built walls about all his cities and garrisoned 
them with large bodies of men, so that he must 
altogether, one million well-drilled soldiers. His 
well as his wisdom, gained for him the 
neighboring kings, who made him such 
in addition to his own 
possessions, that he be- 
came one of the richest 
and most exalted rulers 
that ever governed any 
part of Israel. 

In the third year of 
his reign Jehoshaphat 
called together the rulers 
of the country and com- 
manded them to teach all 
the people in the several 
cities, over which they 
ruled, the laws of 
Moses, and to incite 
them to diligence in 
the worship of God. 

This produced a most 
favorable effect, for it 
ment the Hebrews in a 
lowship which largely in- 
power, for there were now 
or disturbing elements in 

When Jehoshaphat had 
eral years, he chose for his 


served to ce- 
common fel- 
creased their 
no factions 
the kingdom, 
reigned sev- 
son Jehoram 

a wife from one of Ahab’s daughters named Athaliah, by which he hoped 
to promote a friendship with Ahab as king of the ten tribes, and it is 
possible that he also looked forward to the reunion of all the twelve 


NOW HEAR ME THEREFORE, AND DELIVER 
THE CAPTIVES AGAIN.— 2 Chron. 28.11. 


3 86 


Wilt Thou Go With Me to Battle to Ramoth- Gilead? 



tribes into one nation and under one king. Some' time after Jehoram’s 
marriage Jehoshaphat paid a friendly visit to Ahab, at Samaria, who 
received him with many evidences of affection, and caused great feasts to 

be held in his honor. During this visit 
Ahab besought the assistance of Jehosha- 
phat in a war against the king of Syria, 
which Ahab was at the time contem- 
plating, in order to recover the 
city of Ramoth, in Gilead, which 
was held by the Syrian king. It is 
probable, also, that Ahab, being 
troubled by Micaiah’s prophecy, had 


THEN THE PRIESTS THE EEVITES AROSE AND BEESSED THE PEOPEE. 2 Chron. 30. 27. 


made this a pretence to renew the war with Benhadad and execute upon 
him the punishment which he now believed he merited as a blasphemer, 
though three years had elapsed since he gave his pardon to the Syrian king. 


I Will be a Lying Spirit in the Mouth of all His Prophets. 387 



To his request Jehoshaphat returned his promise of aid, but only 
upon an understanding that, while fighting a common enemy, the armies 
of Ahab and Jehoshaphat should remain distinct and commanded by their 
own kings. When Ahab had made everything ready for beginning the 
war, he called together his four hundred 
prophets and asked of them if he should 
gain a victory over Benhadad; they, being 
anxious to please the king, answered him 
favorably, but Jehoshaphat, understanding 
by their speech that they were false 
prophets, asked Ahab if there were not in his 
kingdom some 
true prophet be- 
longing to God 
who might give 
him surer infor- 
mation of how 
the battle would 
result. Ahab 
answered that 
there was one, 
indeed, but that 
he was a man 
always prophe- 
foretold that he 
king of Syria, 
cast the prophet 
of Ahab’s only 


THEY BRAKE DOWN THE AI/TARS 
OF BAAUM IN HIS PRESENCE. — 
2 Chron. 34. 4. 


to be despised because he 
sied evil, who had always 
should be overcome by the 
for which reason he had 
into prison. This admission 
caused Jehoshaphat to be 
more greatly concerned, and he ordered that Micaiah be sent for. When 
the true prophet appeared before the two kings and was commanded 
to speak, he was at first loath to do so, but being pressed to tell what 
should come to pass, he told Ahab that his troops would be dispersed, 
though they should return in safety, but that he would be overcome and 
slain. 


3 88 


A Certain Man Drew a Bow . . . and Smote the King. 


Ahab was much impressed by the prediction of Micaiah, and would 
no doubt have abstained from war had not Zedekiah, one of the false 
Ahab encour- prophets, reassured him by charging him to give no heed to 
aged by false the words of Micaiah, who was not to be believed, for he 
prophets. always spoke falsely. Moreover, to better convince the king, 

Zedekiah struck Micaiah violently, at the same time saying: “If this be 
a true prophet, let him hurt my hand as Jadon caused the hand of 
Jeroboam to wither.” When Ahab saw with what impunity the false 
prophet treated Micaiah he no longer hesitated, but led his army forth. 
However, with still some forebodings that evil might come upon him as 
predicted, Ahab put off his royal robes and clothed himself in the gar- 
ments of a common soldier, wearing armor, and bade Jehoshaphat to wear 
his habit and stand before the army, that he might appear as king of 
the ten tribes. Jehoshaphat cheerfully complied with Ahab’s request, for 
beside being a brave man, his courage was doubly fortified by reason of 
the assurances of God. 

When Ahab and Jehoshaphat drew up their armies before Ramoth, 
Benhadad sallied out and met them, but first gave instructions to his 
Ahab killed by soldiers to slay no one but the king of Israel. The Syrians 
an accident. therefore fell upon Jehoshaphat, whom they at first judged 
to be Ahab because of the clothes he wore, but perceiving their mistake 
they fell back. The fighting continued all the day, but without any 
casualties, for the Syrians contented themselves with holding the Israel- 
ites in check, giving no blows, but striving all the while to find Ahab. 
Late in the evening a young nobleman belonging to Benhadad’s army, 
and whose name was Naaman, becoming irritated with impatience because 
his commander forebore charging the enemy, drew his bow and let fly an 
arrow, little regarding its flight, and without any idea of the fatal mes- 
senger it would prove to be. God evidently directed the arrow, for it 
struck Ahab between the plates of his armor and penetrated his lungs. 
The wounded king, anxious for the honor of his army, bade his chariot 
driver to take him quickly off the field, and not to let the disaster that 
had befallen him become known to any one, for fear that it would cause 
his army to retreat. Ahab endured great pain until sunset, when death 



SJiouldst Tlion Help the Ungodly ? 


came to his relief. At the same time the Syrians withdrew, for they did 
not want to engage in a pitched battle, being doubtful of their power to 
defeat the Israelites, but when the news of Ahab’s death was received 
they immediately retired within the walls of Ramoth. 

The Israelites took Ahab’s body back to Samaria, and buried it there 
with honors appropriate to the exalted position he had held. The chariot 
in which he had been conveyed was 

covered withblood which was 

eagerly licked up by dogs, as it was 

being washed 
at the foun- 
tain of J ez- 
reel, thus 
fulfil ling 
Elijah’s 
prophecy, and 
also that of 
Micaiah, who 
foretold that 
the kin 
should die 
at Ramoth. 

As Jehosh- 
aphat was 

returning to Jerusa- 
lem, from his expedi- 
tion against Ben ha- 
dad, he was met by 
the prophet Jehu, who 

rebuked him soundly for aiding so wicked a man as Ahab, but said God 
had delivered him from the enemy because of his generally righteous 
conduct. Jehoshaphat was convinced of the truth of Jehu’s words, and 
betook himself to thanksgiving and the offering of sacrifices as an atone- 
ment ; he also exhorted his people to observe strictly all the laws of Moses, 


HAVK ME AWAY; FOR I AM SORE WOUNDED. — 2 Chron. 35. 23. 


390 


Thus Shall Ye Do in the Fear of the Lord . 


and appointed judges and priests from among the Levites, who were 
instructed to teach the Israelites to obey God, and to award sentences 
according to the most exact justice. These wise acts greatly pleased the 
people, for they perceived in them the goodness of Jehoshaphat, and that 
God was with him. 

Scarcely had the king regulated his affairs, which had become some- 
what disordered during his absence from Jerusalem, when a large army, 
composed of Moabites, Ammonites and Arabians, made an invasion into 
Judah, and encamped at Engedi, nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, 
having come to gather, by force if necessary, a precious balsam called 
Balm of Gilead, which was brought out of Arabia by the Queen of 
Sheba as a present to Solomon, and which, being planted, had flourished 
greatly in the region of Engedi. 

When Jehoshaphat heard of the invaders he called his people to a 
congregation in the Temple, and there prayed to God for the power to over- 
come his enemies, to which prayer all the people added their 
jehoshaphat s entreaties. While they were thus crying, a prophet named 

prayer in the 

Temple. Jahaziel came into the midst of the assembly and assured 
Jehoshaphat that God heard his supplications and had 
promised to fight his battle for him. The prophet further instructed 
the king to take his forces on the following day and go toward Engedi, 
for he should find the enemy at the place called The Eminence, which 
was between Jerusalem and Engedi, but having brought his army thither, 
he should stand still and wait to see what God would do. 

Jehoshaphat observed all that Jahaziel had told him, and as soon as 
daylight appeared he marched out of Jerusalem headed by the Levites, 
who went before, singing hymns and playing upon musical instruments. 
When they came in sight of the invaders, Jehoshaphat commanded them 
to halt and observe what should come to pass, for he believed, as the 
prophet had told him, that some miracle was about to be performed. 
Nor was he disappointed, for God created a confusion among the Ammon- 
ites and Moabites, which caused them to fall upon each other in a 
desperate conflict that did not terminate until the whole had been slain, 
and the valley was filled with dead men. For this happy deliverance 


39 1 


They Were Three Days in Gathering of the Spoils. 



Jehoshaphat gave thanks to God, and then sent his soldiers to take all 
that was left in the enemy’s camp and the spoils that the}^ might find 
upon the dead bodies. The search for valuables continued for three days, 
so great was the number slain, and the spoils recovered were enough to 
load all those of his army. The valley where God had thus fought the 
Moabites and 
Ammonites 
was therefore 
called The 
Valley of 
Blessings. 

When Je- 
ll os haphat 
returned to 
Jerusalem he 
offered up sac- 
rifices and 
kept a festival 
of thanks for 
many days, 
nor did he 
afterward 
forget God, 
but remained 
a righteous 
man to his 
death. His 
glory greatly 

increased, for he was feared by all neighboring kings; and establishing a 
league of friendship with Ahaziah, Ahab’s son and successor, the two 
built a considerable fleet of ships which they sent to ports on the Mediterra- 
nean and Red Sea for various articles, hoping to establish a commerce 
with other countries. This effort largely increased his power among his 
own and neighboring people, but the undertaking was not successful in 


AND SHAPHAN READ IT BEFORE THE KING.— 2 Chrou. 34. 18. 


392 


He Walked in the Way of Asa , His Father. 



immediate results, for most of the ships were destroyed because they had 
not been properly constructed. 

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he ascended the throne, 
and his rule continued for twenty-five years, when he died, 

leaving his subjects at peace with 




WHOSE MERCHANTS ARE 
PRINCES, WHOSE TRAFFICK- 
ERS ARE THE HONORABLE 
OF THE EARTH. — Isa. 23. 8. 

all the world and more pros- 
perous and contented than 
they had ever been under 
any previous ruler. His 
place of sepulture was 
among the kings who pre- 
ceded him, in the royal 
tomb at Jerusalem. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 



Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

ONSIDERING the condign punishments that followed 
invariably the iniquities of Israel’s rulers, and the man}^ 
manifestations of God’s merciful care in the time of great 
need, it is a most astonishing thing that nearly all the 
kings prostituted themselves by idolatry and other offen- 
sive practices, ever mindless of the fate that befell the 
violators of their sacred laws. Ahaziah was no exception 
to this rule, for though having Jehoshaphat as an example 
and ally, he inherited all the wickedness of Ahab, his father, and the 
depravity of his mother, Jezebel. Scarcely had he gained the throne 
before the worship of Baal was instituted anew, presumably through the 
influence of Jezebel, though it is hardly probable that idolatry had ceased 
before Ahab’s death. It had certainly greatly diminished, however, and 
was not publicly observed, until re-established by the sanction, if not open 
avowal, of Ahaziah. His wickedness provoked the just anger of God, who 
speedily sent afflictions upon him. His troubles began by the refusal of 
the Moabites to continue the payment of the tribute that had been levied 
upon them by Ahab, and when he attempted to force the collection they 
rebelled and brought a war upon the country. Ahaziah, however, was pre- 
vented by an accident from leading his army against the rebels, for at 
the beginning of hostilities, while he was descending a stairway in his 
house, he stumbled and fell, and received serious injuries. Ahaziah appeals 
While lying in bed from his hurt, he sent messengers to the to the god of 
god of Flies, the divinity which he worshiped and which 
was set up in Ekron, to inquire if he should recover The Bible calls 
this god Baal-zebub, but Josephus says it was the god flies, which Ahaziah 
worshiped under the belief that it had the power to drive away the flies 
which were so troublesome at the sacrifices. 

(393) 


394 


Thou Shalt Not Come Down from that Bed. 


God sent Elijah to meet the messengers, and to tell them that the 
people of Israel had a God of their own, therefore they sinned in going 
to a foreign god with their inquiries ; but that they might return home 
at once, for Ahaziah should not escape the judgment which had been 
brought upon him. The messengers came back to Samaria at once, and 
when they gained the king’s presence he asked how they had returned 



so quickly ; in 
told him of 
forbade them 
with the word 


AMAZIAH . . . FI.KD TO I.ACHISH. 
— 2 Chron. 25. 27. 


response to which they 
having met an old man who 
to go any further, but to return 
that their king should not re- 


cover. This prediction worried Ahaziah, and the more because he knew 
by the description given of the prophet by the messengers that it was 
Elijah. 

When the king had heard all that had been reported him, though 
his concern was great, he thought to punish the prophet for making such 
a prediction, as though such a course might avert his fate. He accordingly 


395 



Let Fire Come Down from Heaven and Consume Thee. 


sent a captain with fifty men to arrest Elijah and bring him to the city. 
The captain went out with his company and found Elijah sitting on top 
of a hill girt about with a girdle of leather. He accosted the prophet 
harshly and commanded him to come at once to the king, threatening 
him with force if he should refuse. Elijah thereupon not only refused, but 
told the captain that 
he would show him by 
a miracle, whether or 
not he was a 
true prophet. 

So saying 
Elijah 
prayed 
that a 
fire might 
come out 
of heaven 
and destroy 
the captain 
and his 
men. His 
prayer was 
speedily 
answered, 
for a whirl- 
wind of flame 
descended from 

- , 1 THE EEPROSY EVEN ROSE UP IN HIS FOREHEAD BEFORE THE PRIESTS IN 

out the Clouds the HOUSE OF THE EORD.— 2Chron. 26. 19. 

and consumed 

the men. The disaster which had befallen the messengers was told to 
Ahaziah, who, with increased anger, sent fifty others to accomplish the 
prophet’s arrest, but these, too, were destroyed in the same manner. The 
calamities, which would have readily convinced a reasonable man, had no 
other effect upon Ahaziah than to increase his wrath and determination, so he 


396 The Angel of the Lord said unto Elijah , Go Down With Him . 

dispatched a third company of fifty men. The captain of this last body was 
more discreet than those who had gone before, for when he found Elijah, 
instead of speaking in a peremptory and threatening manner, he accosted 
him civilly, and told the prophet that he had not come of his own accord, but 
because he had been commanded by the king, and desired that he would 
have mercy upon himself and men and come willingly to Ahaziah. To 
this civil and courteous request Elijah returned a kind answer, and went 
with the captain to the king ; but when he had come into the royal pres- 
ence he repeated the prophecy, that, because Ahaziah had rejected the true 
God and had given himself over to the worship of idols, he should not 
recover from his injuries, but would speedily die. This prophecy was ful- 
filled almost the instant that Elijah had left off speaking. 

Ahaziah’s reign lasted only one year when, having died without issue, 
his brother Jehoram succeeded to the throne. 

The last act of Elijah was to prophesy against Jehoram, who, for 
following in the footsteps of Ahab and Ahaziah, the prophet told should 
Elijah be brought to destruction. His mission on earth was now 

forewarned of accomplished, and he received from God the intelligence 
that he would soon be called to that glorified condition which 
surpasses all earthly exaltation ; nor was the grave to triumph over him 
at last, for it was ordained that he should pass into heaven without 
entering through the doors of a sepulchre. Elijah was much given to 
contemplation, and desired to be alone that he might hold communion 
with Jehovah, who was always with him. Elisha, however, had been his 
companion and servant since the divine power had descended upon him 
in the field that he was plowing ; but now that he was about to be called 
hence, Elijah desired to be alone again, so he told Elisha to remain at 
Gilgal, as he wished to go up to Bethel. But Elisha was also forewarned 
of Elijah’s end, and refused to remain behind, but followed him to Bethel. 
At this place the two were met by several other prophets, who said to 
Elisha, a Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy 
head to-day ? ” to which he replied, “ I do know it ; hold your peace.” 
Elijah now told Elisha that he was going up to Jericho, and again asked 
his servant to remain behind ; but, as before, Elisha persisted in following, 



THEN THE FIRE OF THE EORD FEEE, AND CONSUMED THE BURNT SACRIFICE. — i Kings i°. 38. 

( 397 ) 


39§ 


Elijah Went Up by a Whirlwind Into Heaven . 

and when they came to Jericho the same inquiry was addressed to 

Elisha by the prophets there that was made at Bethel. Upon tarring 

here a short time Elijah went on to Jordan, with Elisha following as 
before ; but the two were now watched by fifty other prophets who had 
been apprised by divine intuition of Elijah’s end. As the two arrived at 
the river’s brink Elijah took off his leather girdle and striking the water 
the stream divided so that a wall stood on either side, thus permitting 
them to walk across in the dry bed. When they had gone over Elijah 
Elijah is asked his servant what gift he desired should be bestowed 

translated to upon him, as the time was now near when they should be 
separated in this life. Elisha eagerly begged that a double 
portion of his master’s righteousness and power might be granted him. 
To this Elijah replied that while his request was a bold one, yet it should 
be granted if he were permitted by God to see him taken away ; other- 
wise not. While they were thus conversing a fiery chariot, drawn by 

horses of flame, came down from the sky and took the good prophet 

Elijah up to heaven before the eyes of Elisha, but as he went up Elijah 
cast off his mantle, which, falling to the ground, was picked up by 
Elisha, for it was a sign that his power and spirit had been given to his 
servant. Elisha now went back to the Jordan, and striking the water with 
the mantle was rejoiced to see that the gift he had asked for had been 
bestowed. The river parted again and permitted him to recross on dry 
land. When Elisha told the fifty prophets of what had befallen his 
master they doubted his word and sent in search of him fifty of the most 
active men in Jericho ; but after prosecuting the search for three days 
they returned and reported their inability to discover any trace of Elijah, 
whereupon Elisha was accepted as his legitimate successor. But to 
further prove to his brethren the divine power which had been given him, 
he cast some salt into a bitter spring that threw out its acrid water from 
the base of a hill near Jericho, and instantly the spring became pure and 
wholesome, and so remains to this day, refreshing a considerable territory 
that was before barren. 

Elisha went from Jericho to Bethel by the same route over which 
he had followed Elijah, but upon returning to the town some children, 


There Came Forth Two She Bears Out of the Wood. 


399 



as the Bible tells us, came out and mocked him by such expressions 
as, “ Go up, thou bald-head.” This so angered the prophet that he 
prayed God to avenge his insults, whereupon two she-bears 
issued out of a neighboring wood and tore forty-two of the 
children. That the rendering into our language of the 
description of this incident is too literal, is so apparent as to 

scarcely need mention. The mon- strosity of such an 

act as that of sending bears to * i Wk destroy lisping 


Railers torn 
by bears. 


offence as this 
scarcely be 
ment of 
it to 




little children for so small an 
harmless raillery can 
measured by the judg- 
men, and to impute 
the Holy Spirit 
is an iniquity 
that is unpar- 
donable. It was 
at Bethel that 
Jeroboam set up 
golden h e i f e r s J| i 
for the people to | 
worship, and 
this idolatry was 
perpetuated 
through the 
reigns of Ahab and 
Ahaziah. It is there- 
fore most probable that 
when Elisha came by put thine_hand upon the 

way of the golden im- 
ages he rebuked the people for their sinfulness, and 

was answered by the children of Belial with mockings, as it was their 
practice to do, as we have already seen. These children of Belial were 
the recreant Israelites who had abandoned the true God and joined them- 
selves to idols, and their punishment, by being torn by bears, was a 


400 


This Is Blood; the Kings are Surely Slain . 


Jehoram joins 
Jehoshaphat 
against the 
Moabites. 


natural visitation of the divine wrath. Any other interpretation is an 
injustice both to God and to Elisha. 

Upon the death of Ahaziah, Jehoram, his brother, assumed the 
rulership, and immediately turned his attention to the Moabites, to 
compel them to continue paying the annual tribute of one 
hundred thousand lambs and as many rams ; but he did 
not have the courage to attack the rebels with his own 
army, and so applied to Jehoshaphat for help. This pious 
ruler readily proffered his assistance, and as the two marched 
toward Moab they were joined by the king of Edom, who ruled over a 
dependency of Judah. The three kings, at the head of their respective 
armies, marched for seven days in the direction of Moab, but their 
progress was very slow, and on account of a scarcity of water in the 
wilderness through which they passed their sufferings were great. 

The complaints and misgivings of the armies induced Jehoshaphat to 
inquire if there was a prophet of God among them, and learning that 
Elisha had accompanied the expedition, besought him to foretell what 
should befall them. 

Jehoram had persisted in the idolatry of his predecessors, and on 
account of his wickedness Elisha refused to prophesy until the king had 
promised to yield himself to God ; whereupon the prophet 
commanded the armies to set about immediately to digging 
trenches over all the plain, assuring Jehoshaphat that a 
rain should soon come to fill these ditches, and that a great 
victory would be won over Mesha, king of the Moabites. The army set 
resolutely to work in the night digging trenches, as Elisha had 
commanded, and when morning broke they were filled with water by 
a rain that had fallen just before dawn. The Israelites had retired to 
their camp, when the Moabites appeared, and, seeing the ditches of 
water red with the sun’s reflected rays, at once concluded that it was 
blood that had been spilled by the confederated armies fighting among 
themselves. Without considering further, the Moabites rushed in disorder 
to the camp which lay before them, in their desire to gather such spoils 
as might be found, but they were taken completely by surprise, for the 


The Moabites 
overcome by a 
strategy. 


Took His Eldest Son . . . and offered Him for a Burnt Offering. 401 



three armies now left their tents and met the Moabites with such 
suddenness that they were scattered like so many sheep, and retreated 
without a show of resistance. The Moabites were pursued and slaught- 
ered with impunity, their cities were burned, fields destroyed, and the 
whole country devastated until m 
their final place of refuge was 
in Kir-haraseth, the last city 
left, to them. This place was 
besieged, and would no doubt 




MY FATHER CHASTISED YOU WITH WHIPS, BUT I WIDE CHASTISE YOU WIiH SCORPIONS i Kings 12. 14. 


have been taken also, but for the action of Mesha, who, mounting the 
walls, raised his son and heir in his arms, and in the face of the besiegers 
offered him as a sacrifice to the god Moloch for the safety of the city. 
A singular thing followed. Instead of this sacrilege further offending the 

26 


402 


Go Sell the Oil and Pay Thy Debt , and Live . 

pious Jehosliaphat, or raising the wrath of Elisha, who was presumably 
still with the army, its effect was immediately what the idolatrous Moab 
king predicted, for the siege was at once raised and the confederated armies 
returned to their respective countries. 

The record of Jehoram’s reign is chiefly made up with the deeds of 
Elisha, whose power to work miracles was greater than that of any other 
prophet, and second only to that of Christ himself. 

Soon after his return from the war against Mesha he was met by a 
poor woman, who begged him to pity her distress. He asked the cause 
Elisha and the °f her present trouble, to which she replied that her husband 
widow’s cruse had contracted a debt and soon afterward died without being 
able to pay it ; that she had tried in vain to discharge the 
obligation herself, and now the creditor was threatening to take away her 
two sons and make bondsmen of them, thus leaving her wholly without 
means of support. Elisha saw how great was the poor woman’s sorrow, 
and feeling compassion for her, seeing that she possessed only a small pot 
of oil, bade her go to the neighbors and borrow from them all their empty 
vessels, and to have her sons bring them into the house and shut the door. 
When this had been done, he instructed her to pour into each vessel a 
little of the oil which she had left, and to then watch the result. In a 
little while, and as she looked at them, all the vessels had become filled 
with pure oil, which Elisha now ordered her to sell and pay the man whom 
her husband had owed, and to buy food for herself and children. 

A while after performing this miracle Elisha was sojourning in the 
city of Shunem, and one day while in the street, a certain rich woman 
meeting him, and knowing that he was prophet, invited him to stop with 
her and partake of her hospitality, which invitation he gladly accepted, for 
the lot of a prophet was a hard one, their dependence being generally upon 
the bounty of those with whom they chanced to come in contact. The 
woman was so pleased with Elisha that, after learning that he frequently 
passed that way, she proposed to her husband that they prepare a special 
chamber in their house for this man of God, to which he assented, and a 
room was fitted up with a bed, stool and candlestick, so that the prophet had 
a comfortable lodging. 


403 



He Sat On Her Knees till Noon , and then Died 


Some time after Elisha came by Shunem, accompanied by his servant 
Gehazi, and put up with the good woman, whose hospitality continued to 
grow warmer. As a reward for this kindness Elisha told the woman, 
who had remained childless, that she should have a son, which greatly 
pleased her, for barrenness was a reproach among the Hebrews. According 
to Elisha’s proph- 
ecy a son was born 
to the woman, in 
whom she had 
great joy, for her 
life was wrapped 
up in him. But 
when the son was 
almost grown he 
fell suddenly ill 
one day while in 
the field among 
his father’s reap- 
ers. He was car- 
ried to his mother 
and sat in her lap 
until noon, when 
he died. 

The an- 
guished 
woman 
took the 
body and 

laid it upon Elisha’s bed, and shutting the door, ran off to find him, her 
heart being filled with the hope that he might restore her lost one again. 
Elisha, whilst sitting on Mount Carmel, saw the woman approaching on 
an ass, and sent Gehazi to meet her and inquire the cause of her coming. 
She refused to talk with the servant, however, but came directly into 
Elisha’s presence and told him of the sorrow that had befallen her. Upon 




THERE A WAEE FELE UPON TWENTY AND SEVEN 
THOUSAND. — i Kings 29. 30. 


404 The Child Sneezed Seven Times . . . and Opened His Eyes. 



learning these evil tidings, Elisha bade Gehazi take his staff and run 
quickly to the woman’s house and lay it upon the child. 

But the woman would not turn back without Elisha himself should 
come, so the two went on together. As they neared the house Gehazi 
came out and told Elisha that he had laid his staff upon the child, as 
directed, but that he had not awakened. Thereupon Elisha went into the 

house and lay himself upon the 
body, which forthwith grew warm, 
and the youth soon rose up in life 
and was given in health to his 
mother, whose thankfulness was 
expressed by bowing herself to 
the earth and kissing his feet. 

After this miracle Elisha 
went to Gilgal to visit some of 
the prophets and their families 
that lived there. Becoming hun- 
gry, he ordered his servant to 
put a great pot on the fire and 
go into the field and gather some 
lentils or peas, and boil 
them for the company to 
eat. The servant gath- 
ered the peas, as directed, 
and he also brought some 
poisonous berries which 
good. When the peas 


BEHOLD, I WIE.E BRING 
EVIE UPON THEE AND 
WII.E TAKE AWAY 
THY POSTERITY. _ 1 
Kings 21. 21. 


and berries were sufficiently boiled the company sat down to eat, but 
soon discovered the deadly danger that was in the pottage set before 
them. Elisha now commanded that a little meal be brought, 
which he threw into the pot and then bade all before him 
to eat without fear, for the poison had been removed. The 
men ate accordingly without receiving any harm. After performing this 
miracle Elisha went to a gathering of the prophets at another place, 


Miracle of the 
poison berries. 


Then Went He Down and Dipped Himself Seven Times in Jordan. 405 

and the time being come to eat, it was discovered that all the food 
available were twenty loaves of bread and a few ears of corn. With the 
assurance born of his divine character, however, he ordered these to be 
distributed, and when the loaves were broken there was enough food at 
hand to feed more than one hundred persons. 

Elisha’s next wondrous work was the healing of Naaman of leprosy. 
This man was a captain in Benhadad’s Syrian host, and because of his 
great valor, and victories won over the Israelites, was most highly esteemed 
by the king. In one of the battles which he had fought against Israel 
he captured a little Hebrew girl whom he employed as a waiting-maid 
to his wife. One day this little girl told her mistress that if Naaman 
would go to the prophet Elisha he would be healed of his affliction. 
Thus encouraged, Naaman came to Jehoram with a letter Naaman the 
from Benhadad, requesting him to cure the captain of his lepcr hea,cd * 
disease, but Jehoram did not understand the message, believing that it 
was an excuse to make war against him. Elisha, however, soon heard of 
the message and sent for Naaman to come to him ; and when the cap- 
tain arrived before the prophet’s house Elisha sent his servant out to tell 
the leper to bathe seven times in the Jordan. 

This greatly offended Naaman, for he expected Elisha to come out 
himself and do a miracle by his own hands, and he was, therefore, on the 
point of returning again to his own country. But some of those who 
were his attendants persuaded him to do as Elisha had bidden, and when 
he had dipped the seven times, immediately his flesh became clean and 
pure. 

When he beheld himself restored Naaman returned to Elisha’s house, 
and calling the prophet out, praised him and said, “ Behold, now I know 
that there is no other God in all the earth, but the God of Israel.” 
Then he begged Elisha to accept a present, but the prophet refused, 
desiring no recompense for the work accomplished through the Lord’s 
will. Then Naaman asked that he might be permitted to take as much 
dirt from the land as two mules could carry, for he wished to build an 
altar of the sacred earth upon which to make his offerings thereafter to 
the true God. 


406 Is It a Time to Receive Money and Garments ? . . . 

After Naaman had gone away, Gehazi, who was a selfish man, think- 
ing to take advantage of the captain’s offer of a present, ran after him, 
Gehazi, the dis- and when he had come near he called to Naaman, saying 
honest servant, that since he departed two sons of prophets had come to 
Elisha destitute, and his master had therefore sent him to ask if he 
would not give them each a talent of silver and two changes of raiment. 

Naaman was too thankful to refuse so modest a request from the 
prophet, and at once ordered two talents of silver to be placed in two bags, 
and two changes of raiment brought forth, which he gave to two of his 
servants to carry back for Gehazi. When they arrived at Elisha’s house 

Gehazi took the silver and clothes and hid them, thinking to appropriate 

■ 

them to his own use when a suitable time should come. The Lord, however, 
acquainted Elisha with what his servant had done, and when Gehazi came 
into his presence the prophet inquired of him where he had been. Hoping 
to deceive him, Gehazi answered that he had been nowhere. Then Elisha 
covered him with shame and confusion by saying, “ Went not mine heart 
with thee, when the man (Naaman) turned again from his chariot to meet 
thee? Is it time to receive money and garments? . . . The leprosy 

therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and unto thy seed forever. 
And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” 

Elisha had founded a school for prophets at the place where the 
curse on Gehazi was given, and the attendance became such that more 
room was required or else a more retired spot became necessary, for we 
are told that these pupils, called “ sons of prophets,” came to him to say 
that the place in which they were dwelling was too small for them, and 
Elisha estab- desired of him permission to make a new dwelling house on 
Hshes a school the banks of the Jordan. This request was granted and the 
for prophets, school was removed to a chosen spot on the river’s bank. 
Here the sons of prophets fell to work cutting down trees, but while 
thus engaged one of the workers chanced to let his axe fall from his 
hand into a deep place in the river. He was inconsolable at the loss, 
because axes were precious tools in those days ; besides, the one thus lost 
had been borrowed. When Elisha learned of the accident he went to the 
man, and inquiring the spqt where the axe had fallen, he cut a stick 


Go and Spy Where He Is that I May . . . Fetch Him. 407 



and threw it into the water, whereupon the axe rose and swam upon the 
surface until it was taken in the man’s hand, and recovered. 

Some time after this event Benhadad declared war against Jehoram 
and sent a large army of Syrians to take him captive, but Elisha fore- 
warned the king of Benhadad’s designs, so that he was able to evade 
arrest. This failure to capture Jehoram greatly angered Benhadad, who 
believed that some of his own servants 

had discovered his secrets to Israel’s g 

king, therefore, sending for several of 
his trusted men, he 
asked who of them 
had given 
J e h o r a m 
knowledge 
of his pur- 
poses. To 
this one of 
the men 
made re- 
ply that 
it was 
not they 
who had 
done this, but 

Elisha the there came a man up to meet us and SAID ... go turn again to the 

KING THAT SENT YOU.— 2 Kings i. 6. 

prophet. At 

this Benhadad sent to find where Elisha was dwelling, and by this means 
learning that he was in Dothan, went up with all his army in the night 
and laid a watch upon the city, first surrounding it so that Benhadad 
no man might escape. At this his servant was greatly tries to capture 
alarmed, and asked Elisha what they should do to be delivered E,fsha * 
from the Syrians. He counseled him to be of good courage, saying, 
“Those that be with us are more than they that be with them,” and 
then fell upon his knees and prayed that God might show to his servant 


408 


The Mountain was Full of Horses and Chariots of Fire . 



the mighty host which guarded him. Then the young man looked up 
and saw the mountain which stood upon their right covered with horsemen 
in chariots of fire, and others surrounding the person of his holy master, 
whereat he perceived that Jehovah had come to protect him. When the 

Syrians drew near to enter the 
city, their sight was confused so 
that they did not recognize 
who told them that the prophet 
Elisha, whom they 
sought was not in 
Dothan, but that he 
would lead them to 
the place where he 
might be found. 
The army accord- 
ingly followed him 
without knowing 
whither they were 
going, or being able 
to perceive their real 
surroundings, until 
they were led into 
the city of Samaria 
and into the power 
of the Israelites. 
Elisha now restored 
their sight and they 
were made to dis- 
cover how they had 
been led by the prophet whom they were seeking. Jehoram now asked 
Elisha if he should destroy the Syrians, but the prophet forbade him, 
saying, “Wouldst thou smite them, whom thou has taken captive, with 
thy sword, and with thy bow ? Set bread and water before them that they 
may eat and drink, and go to their master.” And thus were the Syrians 


THERE WAS A GREAT FAMINE IN SAMARIA.— 2 Kings 6. 25. 


So We Boiled My Son , and Did Eat Him. 409 

permitted to return to their country without suffering the loss of one of 
their number, a mercy which they ill-requited, as we shall soon see. 

Benhadad not long thereafter undertook another war against Jehoram, 
whose kindness should have secured his friendship, but he was a cruel 
man and was led by his greed and ambition to fight against Israel, 
hoping to possess the country and the rich spoils’ it afforded. The siege of 

Therefore raising a great army he laid siege to Samaria Samaria, 

and kept the people within the walls so long that a great famine ensued, 
food becoming at length so scarce that an ass’ head sold for four pieces 
of silver, and even cannibalism was resorted to. As Jehoram was passing 
along the wall still encouraging his soldiers to hold out against the 
enemy, a woman came crying to him with the complaint that she had 
made a compact with another woman on the preceding day that they 
should sacrifice each a child to serve them for food, and that accordingly 
she had boiled her son and eaten him yesterday, but now to-day the 
other woman had hidden her son and refused to sacrifice him as she had 
promised. 

The horror of his situation was now fully revealed to Jehoram, who 
put on sackcloth and rent his clothes w T ith grief and despondency. But 
believing that his desperate strait was due to Elisha, who, he thought, 
withheld the relief which he was able to give, sent an executioner to cut 
off the prophet’s head. But before the headsman reached the house of Elisha, 
Jehoram repented his rash order and ran himself to prevent the execu- 
tion. Elisha was sitting in a room counseling with the elders when God 
revealed to him Jehoram’s purpose, and turning he said to those about 
him that a messenger had been sent to take his head, but ordered them to 
hold the man in the door, for the king would run after him to prevent 
the execution, which came to pass as he had spoken. The king ran with 
all haste and reached Elisha’s house while the messenger was attempt- 
ing an entrace, and gaining the prophet’s presence he humbled himself 
and asked what he should do. 

Elisha had compassion upon the king and his sorely oppressed 
subjects, and declared to him that on the morrow such an abundance of 
food would be provided that a measure of fine flour would be sold for a 


4io 


Let Us Fall Unto the Host of the Syrians. 



shekel and two measures of barley for a like small sum. One of the 
king’s lords made light of the prophecy, saying, “ If the Lord made 
windows in heaven might this thing be but Hlisha assured him he 
should see it with his own eyes, but that on account of his mocking he 
would not be permitted to break his fast. At this time there were four 

lepers sitting without the gates of 
Samaria, who, because of their afflic- 
tion, were indifferent as to the manner 

; ; 

I 


of death which they might meet, and being ■ pressed for hun- 
ger determined to go to the Syrian camp. It was death by 

starvation to remain beside the gate, and if the Syrians should deny 
their request for food and kill them, even this alternative would be better 
than the former. So, early in the morning they went out to the enemy’s 
camp, but as they drew near they could discover no man, which was a 
thing so surpassing strange that they stopped to consider the cause. Then 


THESE EEPERS . . . WENT INTO ONE TENT, 
AND DID EAT AND DRINK, AND CARRIED 
THENCE SIEVER, AND GOED, AND RAI- 
MENT. — 2 Kings 7. 8. 


If We Tarry Till the Morning Light Some Mischief Will Come. 41 1 

they went on again and found the Syrian camp entirely deserted, with all 
the arms, provision and treasure left behind, as if they had been left 011 
account of precipitate flight. And so it proved, for God had Miraculous 
wrought another miracle to save the Israelites, in fulfillment termination of 
of Elisha’s prophecy. “ For the Lord had made the host of the faminc * 
Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise 
of a great host ; and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel has 
hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians 
to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight and 
left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it 
was, and fled for their life.” 

The four lepers went from tent to tent taking as much provisions as 
they could and such an amount of gold and silver as they could carry, 
and then went back to Samaria to spread the joyful news. When 
Jehoram heard what the lepers had said, he suspected that the Syrians 
had drawn off and laid themselves in ambush, to entice the people out 
of the city. But he followed the advice of one of his servants and sent 
five horsemen to discover if the enemy was hid near by ; these went out 
as far as the Jordan, and saw the road scattered with garments and 
vessels, by which they knew that the Syrians had retreated and gone 
back to their own country. The Israelites now issued out of the city 
and found such a quantity of provisions in the abandoned camp that 
flour and barley were sold for the prices that Elisha had predicted ; but 
the mocking lord was not permitted to enjoy any of this abundance, for 
as he stood as a guard at the gate, the multitude came out in such 
crowds and confusion that he was trampled to death. 

Elisha, it would appear, never wandered far from the district in which 
his first miracles were performed, and had become known to all the 
people therein, respected by them for his uprightness and Another famine 
regarded as a man of divine character. On one of his is P rcdicted * 
visits to the Shunammite woman, whose son, it will be remembered, he 
restored to life, he told her that a famine would come upon the land in 
a short while, and that it would not cease for seven years. He therefore 
advised her to go to some other country and remain there until the land 


412 


Restore All that was Hers , and all the Fruits of the Field. 


The Shunammite 
woman has 
her property 
restored. 


prospered again. The woman accepted his advice and went away, leaving 
all her possessions without any one to care for them during her absence, 
by reason of which others who remained in the stricken district took 
charge of the property and when the woman returned, after the seven 
years had elapsed, refused to surrender it to her. It so happened that 
on the day that Gehazi was telling the king, at his request, of the 
wonderful things Elisha had done, this same woman came to him with 
her complaint that she had been dispossessed of her property during her 
absence from Judah, and that thos.e who wrongfully held possession 
refused to yield it up. Gehazi was a most important witness 
in her behalf, for he now testified to the things which Elisha 
had done for her and also of the truth of her complaint. 
Jehoram accordingly appointed an officer to remove the 
trespassers and to restore to her all the fields, and the fruits thereof 
since the day of her departure, which was promptly done. 

When the famine was over, Benhadad fell sick, and being afraid 
that he would die, sent an officer of his court named Hazael with a rich 
present to Elisha, to inquire of the prophet if he would recover. Hazael 
set out with forty camels loaded with every good thing of Damascus, 
to seek the prophet, and when he had fouud him made him a present 
of the articles he brought and besought Elisha to foretell the issue of 
Benhadad’s illness. The prophet did not wish to answer the inquiry, 
but being urged said, somewhat evasively, “ Go, say unto him, thou 
mayest certainly recover ; howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he 
shall surely die.” At this Hazael was confused, for he dreaded to carry 
back such a message, but as he looked somewhat sorrowfully, Elisha 
began to weep, and upon being asked the cause, he replied that it 
was because of the afflictions that he, Hazael, would inflict upon Israel, 
for Elisha foresaw that this man would become king over Syria. 

When Hazael returned to Benhadad he told the king that he would 
surely recover, but on the morrow, the wicked messenger, prompted by 
the ambition which Elisha’s words had created in him, took a thick cloth, 
and saturating it with water held it over Benhadad’s face until he was 
suffocated. After committing this crime Hazael proclaimed himself king, 


Joram Went Back to be Healed in Jezr eel of His Wounds. 413 



and was accepted by the people as their ruler. The latter end of Jehoram’s 
reign was marked by acts of wickedness which brought trouble thick upon 
him. The Edomites revolted against him and set up a new king, but 
Jelioram went to Zair with his army and there fell upon 
the rebels with such suddenness that they were unprepared 


Jehu is anointed 
king over Judah. 


for the attack, and fled without offering any resistance ; the 
Edomites rallied, however, afterward, and were joined by the people of 
Libnah, which gave them sufficient power to maintain their independence. 


Jehoram soon after died, leaving 
turbed and miserable condition, 
son Ahaziah, who, after reigning 
joined forces with Joram, son 
Hazael. Such confusion of 
reason of the fact 
that Jehoram and 
Joram are 
the same 
name, but 
one of these 
was the son of 
J ehoshaphat, 
while the other was 
the son of Ahab, 
and both ruled con- 
temp o r a n e o u s 1 y 


his kingdom in a dis- 
He was succeeded by his 
one year in Jerusalem, 
of Ahab, in a war against 
names arises here by 


SHE WENT FORTH TO CRY UNTO THE KING FOR HER HOUSE, AND FOR 
HER EAND — 2 Kings 8. 3. 


over tribes of Israel. In battle with the Syrians at Ramoth, Joram was 
wounded, and he went back to Jezreel to be treated for his hurt. During 
the period of his inability he was visited by Ahaziah, thus leaving both 
kingdoms without a ruler. Elisha embraced this opportunity to dispossess 
the wicked Ahaziah, whose acts had all been impious. He accordingly sent 
one of his messengers with a box of oil to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu, 
the son of Jehoshaphat, to be king over Judah. The young man executed 
his commission as he had been directed, and when Jehu was anointed the 
messenger bade him to punish the house of Ahab and execute vengeance 


414 


Thou Shalt Smite the House of A hah, thy Master. 



upon the head of Jezebel for ordering the prophets slain. So saying, he 
opened the door and fled, for fear that some of the friends of Ahaziah 

might apprehend 

him. 

Jehu came out 
from the chamber 
in which he had 
been anointed 
and announced 
to the people 


THEM AEE THE HOUSE OF HIS 

precious things. — 2 Kings that he had been called to 


rule Israel, whereupon all 
who heard him took off their garments and cast them under his feet as 
a sign of their loyalty, and then blew trumpets to announce the 


4i5 


Jehu Drew a Bow with His Full Strength. 

proclamation. Jehu at once set about the destruction of Ahab’s house by 
raising an army and going to Jezreel. As he came in sight of the city 
a watchman on the walls espied him and reported it to Joram, who sent 
out a horseman to inquire of Jehu if his mission was that of peace. 
When the messenger came up with Jehu and made his inquiry, he was 
coarsely answered and bidden to go behind. When the messenger failed 
to return a second was sent out, but he, too, was ordered to the rear, and 
a third likewise. By his furious riding Joram discovered that the leader 
of the approaching army was Jehu, and he made ready to meet him. 

The chariots were hurriedly ordered out, in one of which Joram was 
placed and Ahaziah rode in another. The two met Jehu in Naboth, 
where Ahab had caused the owner of a vineyard he coveted Jchu punis h e s 
to be stoned, and asked if he came upon a mission of the witchcrafts 
peace. To which Jehu replied: “What peace so long as of jezebel. 
the iniquities of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many ? ” 
At this answer Joram turned and fled, crying to Ahaziah that they were 
about to be made the victims of a treachery. As they retreated, Jehu pulled 
his bow and shot an arrow through Joram’s back, so that it penetrated his 
heart. The body was then taken by a captain in Jehu’s army and cast 
into the field of Naboth. Ahaziah sought to escape by way of the garden- 
house, but he was so badly wounded by an arrow that he died on the follow- 
ing day at Megiddo. 

There was none to dispute the entrance of Jehu into Jezreel, and he 
made search quickly for Ahab’s infamous widow, the terrible Jezebel, who 
had been suffered so long to survive her iniquities, and to sow the earth 
with a seed of human thistles that had almost choked the The terrible 
growth of justice. The cunning woman tried to avert her death of jezebel, 
just fate by disguising her appearance. She painted her face and put 
on a tawdry head-dress, like a serving-woman, and then gazed out of an 
upper window as a quiet spectator of what was going on below ; but her 
discretion was confounded by God who caused her to inquire of Jehu as 
he rode beneath, “Had Zimri peace who slew his master?” Whereat 
Jehu looked up and asked, “Who is on my side? Who?” At the first 
glance he perceived that it was Jezebel who had spoken, and seeing three 


416 


They Found No More of Her than the Skull and the Feet . 



eunuchs standing beside her he bade them throw her down, which they 
immediately did, for they saw that Jehu was one in authority, and that 
he now had possession of the city. Jezebel’s body fell upon the stone 
pavement below, and was so mangled that her blood was sprinkled upon 
the wall, and the horses trod her under foot. Here the body was per- 
mitted to remain for some hours and until Jehu had feasted, when he 

sent some of his men out to bury it, for, 
though an iniquitous woman, he desired 
that she be given burial as a king’s 
daughter. But when those thus sent came 
to pick up the body they found that it 
had been eaten by dogs until only 
the skull, feet and hands remained, 
thus literally fulfilling the prophecy 
of Elisha. Jehu had made 
an excellent beginning in 
destroying the house 
and posterity of Ahab, 
but there were still 
seventy sons of the 
wicked king living, 
and to these Jehu dis- 
patched letters, and 
also to the people of 
Samaria, challenging 
them to set up one of 

THE KING COMMANDED ... TO BRING FORTH . . . ADD THE VESSEDS SeVen ty &S king. 

THAT WERE MADE FOR BAAD-a Kings *. 4- But they Were afraid, 

and sent back word that they would be his servants and in all things 
obey him as their rightful king. Then Jehu wrote a second letter, 
wherein he commanded the people to manifest their loyalty by sending 
to him on the morrow the heads of all the seventy sons. Accord- 
ingly, the seventy were slain and their heads put into baskets and 
sent to Jehu at Jezreel, where he set them up in two rows before the 


They Took the King's Sons , and Slew Seventy Persons. 


417 



gates as a warning, after which he ordered to be slain all the great men, 
kinsfolk and priests that had served in the house of Ahab. After this' 
Jehu went up to Samaria, but while on his way he met forty-two of 
Ahaziah’s brethren at a shearing house, as they were traveling to Jezreel 
to salute Joram and Jezebel, m | not knowing what fate had 


Jehu ordered his men 
slay them at the 
was promptly 
slaying Ahaz- 
Jehu resumed 
and met 
who was 


overtaken them. These 
to take alive and to 
shearing pit, which 
done. After 
iah’s brothers, 
his journey 
J e h o n a d ab, 
coming to meet 
him. Accept- 
ing his hand 
as a token 
of friend- 
ship, Jehu 
brought him 
into the 
chariot and 
together 
they rode to 
Samaria. . Reaching the 
capital, he issued a proc- 
lamation ordering all the 
prophets and servants of 

Baal to meet him, to offer up a sacrifice to their 
god. He also threatened to punish with death all those who refused 
to obey the summons, pretending that his desire was to make a glorious 
feast in honor of the idol of the people. 

In response to this order all the priests, prophets and worshipers 
of Baal came to Samaria, being so vast in numbers that the house of 
Baal was filled to overflowing. When these idolaters had assembled he 


AND TODD HIM THE WORDS OE RAB- 
SHAKEH. — 2 Kings 18. 37. 


27 


AND ATHAUAH RENT HER CLOTHES, AND CRIED, TREASON, TREASON! — 2 Kings n. 14. 

slaughter at a signal, and threatened that if any of those of Baal should 
escape, to punish with death those who permitted it to be so. Therefore, 
when the burnt-offerings had been made Jehu gave the signal, and his 
guards rushed in upon’ the worshipers with their swords and slew every 



418 Go In and Slay Them ; Let None Come Forth . 

ordered them to be clothed with vestments which were used in the 
idolatrous service. His next order was issued to Jehonadab, instructing 
him to have the worshipers observe strictly that none of the servants 

of God were among them. When the service 
had been made ready Jehu appointed eighty 
of his men as executioners. These 
he stationed at the door of the 
temple with -instruc- 
tions to begin the 


Jehu Departed Not From After Them . . . the Golden Calves. 419 

one, so that the temple was filled with dead bodies, and not one escaped. 
When the slaughter was complete his soldiers were ordered to break all 
the images of Baal, and afterwards to destroy the temple itself, so that 
no remnant of the worshipers of the idol might remain in all Israel. 
The golden calves at Bethel and Dan were also destroyed, though they 
did not compose any part of the worship of Baal, but all kinds of idolatry 
were uprooted by an heroic remedy that turned the nation once more 
toward God. 

Singular, almost beyond understanding, Jehu left off his zeal for 
Jehovah after destroying idolatry and fell into all the evil ways of 
Jehoram, which plunged Israel into sin again. This was followed by a 
war in which Hazael overcame the Israelites and laid all of western 
Palestine under tribute, so that at his death Jehu left the land in a more 
miserable condition — idolatry excepted — than he found it on usurping the 
throne. He died at Samaria and was buried there with the other kings 
of Israel. He reigned for twenty-eight years and was succeeded by his 
son, Jehoahaz, and his posterity recovered Israel, as will be seen. 

The reign of Jehoahaz was unimportant beyond the interest which 
may attach to his wicked acts and the failure of his army in the field 
against Hazael, who prosecuted the war against Israel after Jehu’s death. 
He was beaten in every battle, and was at last reduced to a kind of 
vassalage, being left only ten chariots and as many thousand footmen. 
He, too, was buried in Samaria, in the sepulchre with his father, and was 
succeeded by his son Joash, or Jehoash. 

Upon the death of Jehoahaz, Israel would have been left entirely 
without a lineal branch of the house of David had it not been for the 
daughter of Joram, who saved the infant Joash, son of The youngest 
Ahaziah, by keeping him in hiding for a period of six king of Israel, 
years, during which time a very wicked woman, Athaliah, ruled. Joash 
was finally proclaimed king, when but seven years of age, by the high- 
priest, Jehoida. Thus we find, for the second time, two kings of the same 
name, one ruling Israel and the other Judah, so that we are liable to get 
them confused; but Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, was more wicked than 
his father, and his reign was of short duration, while Joash the son of 


420 


Athaliah Rent Her' Clothes , and said ) Treason ! Treason ! 


Ahaziah, proved himself a wise ruler, and with his acts we will therefore 
be most concerned. 

Joash was crowned without the knowledge of Athaliah, who came 
into the Temple while Jehoida was anointing the young king. She 
raised the cry of treason, hoping to arouse the loyalty of her subjects, 
but she was intensely hated, and at a command of the priest she was 
taken out by the pillars of the Temple and there slain. Joash set about 
building up the waste wrought by Benhadad and Hazael. He was as 
resolute as Jehu had been in prohibiting the worship of Baal, but fell 
into the ways of Jeroboam and permitted sacrifices to the golden calf, 
which it seems had been set up agaiil at Bethel. He visited the aged 
prophet Elisha and was by him warmly received, though at this time he 
had grown out of his youth and become a warrior. In response to his 
request for a prophecy concerning his affairs with the Syrians, Joash was 
given a sign of the victories he should obtain. Elisha bade him draw 
his bow before a window, and laying his hands upon the arms of the 
king, told him to shoot. The other arrows in his quiver the king was 
commanded to draw and throw upon the ground. Joash, however, only 
threw down three arrows, whereat Elisha was vexed and told him that 
now he should gain only three victories, whereas, had he thrown them 
all down, it would have been given him to destroy the Syrians, root and 
branch. After this Elisha died, and was buried in a sepulchre hewn out 
of the rock, near Jerusalem. 

Joash made war against the Syrians and, as Elisha had prophesied, 
beat them in three great battles, but their power was not broken, and 


they afterward oppressed Israel sorely, but not until Joash 
had departed from the good work he had eagerly begun of 
repairing the Temple, and was no longer advised by the 



high-priest Jehoida, by whose counsel he had been long governed. 


The Moabites invaded the country and laid waste a considerable 
portion ; it was during this invasion that a singular miracle was wrought, 


the object of which it has not been given us to know. A party of 


Moabites, while carrying the dead body of one of their comrades for 
burial, sighted a company of men whom they took to be enemies, and to 


* 






422 He Broke Down the Wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim. 

relieve themselves of the body they thrust it into a sepulchre which 
chanced to be near them, and would have retreated. However, this sepul- 
chre was that in which Elisha had been laid, and when the body of their 
comrade touched the bones of the prophet he was restored to life and 
stood upon his feet. 

Hazael, king of Syria, defeated Joash in many engagements, and 
placed him in sore straits, but the fortunes of battle turned again in his 



favor, and before his death 
he had recovered all the 

AND HE BROUGHT THE SHADOW TEN & t h a d been 

DEGREES BACKWARD. — 2 Kings 20. it. 

wrested from his father. 
The two kings, Joash of Judah, and Joash of Israel, 
also fought against each other, and the one of Israel attacked Jerusalem 
with such success that he broke down six hundred feet of the wall of the 
city, and carried away all the gold, silver and vessels found in the Temple, 
and brought them to Samaria. He also fought against Amaziah, the 
successor of his namesake, but was beaten on every side and finally fled to 
Millo badly wounded. While lying in bed, helpless from his hurts, two 
of his servants set upon him with swords and destroyed him in the 


They Made a Conspiracy Against Him in Jerusalem. 423 

forty-seventh }^ear of his age. His burial place was also Samaria. 
Amaziah succeeded his father, Joash, as king of Judah, ascending the 
throne in the twenty-fifth year of his age. He ruled with the wisdom 
of David, and won many great victories. One of his first Amaziah, one 
acts was to organize an army of three hundred thousand of the wise 
men, to which he added one hundred thousand picked kmgs of ,sracl ‘ 
soldiers of Israel, whom he hired for one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars’ worth of silver, to go with him against the Edomites. When his 
expedition started, however, he was commanded by a prophet to discharge 
his mercenaries, whose loyalty could not be depended upon. These men 
of Israel, out of revenge for their dismissal, plundered many cities of 
Judah, but Amaziah did not turn back to punish them, but continued on 
to the Valley of Salt, where he engaged an army of the Edomites and 
slaughtered ten thousand of their soldiers, and destroyed as many more 
by driving them over the rocks of Petra, the capital of Idumea. He 
also captured the city and changed its name to that of Joktheel, which, 
in the Hebrew, signifies Possession of God. 

In the midst of his great successes Amaziah turned from God and 
became idolatrous, setting up images at Mount Seir, to which he made 
sacrifices. 

When reproved by one of his prophets he rebuked him bitterly for 
daring to advise him, whereupon the prophet foretold him that he would 
be destroyed for his iniquity. 

The period of his decline now began, for he was soon after beaten 
by his enemies and a conspiracy was formed against him in his own 
house, which he sought to escape by fleeing to Lachish, but he was here 
overtaken and killed. Azariah became his successor, and though only 
sixteen years of age when he began to rule, he displayed a wisdom 
beyond his years. Instead of engaging in devastating wars he confined 
himself to increasing the glory of his kingdom in peaceful ways. He 
built Elath and restored it to Judah, and set his people in industrial 
ways. His reign lasted fifty-two years, but in the latter end he was 
stricken with leprosy, and had to give the government over to the charge 
of his son, Jotham, who exalted the kingdom. 


424 


He Saved Them by the Hand of Jeroboam . 


Jeroboam, the second, succeeded Joash, his father, as the ruler of 
Jeroboam’s Israel, and reigned for forty-one years at Samaria. He was 
prosperous fourth in descent from Jehu, and proved himself to be the 
rc,gn ’ ablest king Israel had yet possessed. When he assumed 
authority the country was scarcely more than a dependency, so greatly 
reduced was it by the conquests of the Syrians. But he was a man of 



THEY BROUGHT OUT THE KING’S SON, AND PUT UPON HIM THE CROWN.-2Chron.23.il. 


great courage, and set resolutely about the restoration of his dominions, 
being indeed a savior of Israel. He went to war with the Syrians) 
who were also being pressed at the same time by their enemies from the 
east. This gave Jeroboam a great advantage, which he employed with 


Pekah . . . a Captain , Conspired Against Him . 


425 


such success that he recovered to Israel all that district which lay east 
of the Jordan, and captured Ammon and Moab. Afterward he attacked 
Damascus, and though beaten before its walls, he laid the surrounding 
territory under tribute. His death occurred about 750 B. C., but under 
what circumstances is not recorded. 

Zachariah succeeded Jeroboam, but after a rule of only six months 
he was treacherously slain by Shallum, who in turn was assassinated in 
the first month of his reign by Menahem. This cruel man also carried 
a force of conspirators into Tiphsah, where he murdered the inhabitants 
and continued his bloody course up the coast to Tirzah, sparing neither 
women, children, nor the aged, and, having forced a submission from the 
people, he ascended the throne and ruled ten years in Samaria. Pul, 
king of Syria, brought a great army and besieged Samaria, but was per- 
suaded by a present of nearly two million dollars’ worth of silver to 
spare the place and become an ally. This amount Menahem raised by 
making a levy on all the rich men of his kingdom, but he did not live 
long after this alliance with Pul. His son Pekahiah succeeded him, and 
reigned for two years, when Remaliah, a captain in the king’s army, 
brought his company to the palace and killed not only Pekahiah, but 
also his counselors and fifty Gileadites, who were visiting him. Remaliah 
then seized the throne, but it is not recorded how long he reigned. He 
was succeeded by his son Pekah, who retained the rulership for twenty 
years. 

During the reign of Pekah, Israel was invaded by the great Assyrian 
king, Tiglath-pileser, who came with such a mighty force 

. „ 1 r 1 • ... The Assyrian 

that he captured several of the most important cities m invasion 

Pekah’s kingdom, and took possession of all the land of 
Naphtali, and carried his captives to Assyria, where they were made slaves. 
Pekah, in turn, made an alliance with Rezin, of Syria, and tried to recover 
his losses by a war against Jotham, of Judah, but he was also beaten by 
that king, and came back to Samaria, to perish soon after by the hands 
of Hoshea, who ruled in his stead. 

Affairs in Judah had not been more prosperous after Jotham’s death 
than those of Israel after the reign of Joash. Ahaz succeeded his father, 


426 The People Sacrificed and Burned Incense Still in the High Places . 



Jotham, but did not 
profit by the good 
le of his predecessor. He 
nty years old at the be- 
ginning of his reign, and ruled at 
Jerusalem for sixteen years. He 
was an idolater from the beginning, and began his administration by 
the performance of heathen rites, and made his sacrifices “ on the hills 


THE PRINCES AND AIX THE PEOPLE . . . CAST 
INTO THE CHEST. — 2 Chron. 24. 10. 


Burnt His Children in the Fire , After the Abominaiions. 427 

and under every green tree,” instead of at the Temple. Ahaz was 
besieged at Jerusalem in the third year of his reign by Rezin and 
Pekah, but the fortifications were too strong for them to scale, and the 
two armies drew off. Rezin now turned his attention to Elath, and 
after capturing the city he drove out the Jews and repeopled it with 
Syrians. The occupation of a rich district of his dominions by Syrians 
grieved Ahaz greatly, and to recover possession of Elath he Ahaz thc 
sent to Tiglath-pileser for help. This assistance it was not help of Tigiath- 
expected would be given out of friendship, so Ahaz sent his piieser. 
messengers loaded with all the gold, silver and other treasures that were 
in the Temple, accompanying these rich presents with a letter, in which 
he begged the Assyrian monarch to come and deliver him out of the 
hands of the Syrians. Tiglath-pileser accepted the reward offered, and 
sent his army against Rezin, whom he killed, and then captured Damascus, 
carrying the people away captives to Kir. 

While at Damascus Ahaz saw an altar which so pleased his fancy 
that he sent a design of it to his priest, Urijah, at Jerusalem, with instruc- 
tions to erect one exactly like it. The work was done so expeditiously 
that upon his return he found the altar ready, and he immediately made 
sacrifice of burnt-offering upon it. 

Nor did he cease his sacrilege with this one iniquitous act, but sent 
to the Temple of the Lord, and had brought the brazen altar, which he 
now placed in an inferior position to his own, intending to use it as an 
oracle to inquire by. 

He then commanded that all the morning and evening sacrifices of 
burnt-offering, of drink-offering and meat-offering be made upon the altar 
he had erected. But he had not even yet completed his sacrilege, for he 
went again to the Temple and cut off the borders of the basins and lavers, 
“ and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and 
put it on a pavement of stones.” 

Besides this, he caused images to be built and set up in many places 
about Jerusalem for the people to worship, and even sacrificed children 
to the idol Moloch. Yet for all these iniquitous practices God did not 
cut off Ahaz immediately, but extended His mercies for the sake of His 



428 Carr ed Away Captive of their Brethren Two Hundred Thousand . 

promises to David. However, he was not suffered to prosper, for even the 
victories gained by the assistance of Tiglath-pileser availed him nothing, 
since all the spoils and captured possessions were taken by the Assyrian 
The idolatrous conqueror, so that by reason of the payment of such a quantity 
iniquities of of riches to Tiglath-pileser for his help, he was in reality left 
poorer than when he undertook the war against Rezin and 
Pekah. It also appears that he lost the confidence and respect of his 
own subjects, for though, in 2 Kings xvi., it is recorded that at his death 
he u was buried with his fathers in the City of David,” 2 Chron. xxviii. 
27 tells us that “ Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the 
city, even in Jerusalem, but they brought him not into the sepulchres of 
the kings of Israel.” 

Since all the previous kings were laid in a royal sepulchre provided 
especially for them, we must conclude that there was a good reason for 
not giving the body of Ahaz the same burial accorded to his predecessors. 


FOR HE RENT ISRAEE FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID. — 11 Kings 17. 21. 


CHAPTER XIX. 



Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah. 

^ONAH is one of the Bible prophets that is little mentioned in 
the scriptural histor}^ notwithstanding he was evidently a 
man of great importance, made so at least by the mission 
which God selected him to perform, and the outcome cf his 
disobedience. He was directed to go to Nineveh, presumably 
to influence the king of Assyria from undertaking an expe- 
dition against Israel. This was during the reign of Jero- 
boam II., about B. C. 860. The records make it appear that 
his mission was to warn the king that if he did not repent 
of his sins and turn to God he should perish, but the results 
of his preaching and the condition of affairs in Israel at the 
time render it improbable that this was the literal object of his visit. 
At the particular time when he was called of God to proceed to Nineveh 
the Assyrian Empire was at the zenith of its power and was overn nning 
Syria. Israel was also at war with Syria, and, as already related, haa 
recovered from that country all of Palestine east of the Jordan. This 
success would naturally excite the jealousy of Assyria, which wss con- 
tending with Syria, not only to punish that nation for some grievance, 
but for new possessions as well, for all wars in that age had their chief 
object in spoliation. It is therefore even more than probable that Jonah’s 
real mission was to dissuade the Assyrian king from invading Israel, or 
that portion recovered from Assyria, which interpretation is strengthened 
by the entire book of Jonah. 

We are told, in the opening chapter, that “ the word of the Lord 
came unto Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, the 
great city, and cry against it ; for their wickedness (designs) is come up 
before me.” 


(4^9) 


430 What Meanest Thou , 0 Sleeper? Arise , Call Upon Thy God. 



For some reason Jonah was averse to going to Nineveh, and instead 
of obeying the instructions which God had given him, he went to Joppa 
Jonah’s ship an d engaged passage on a vessel going to Tarshish. The 
beset by a Lord was offended at his disobedience, and .as a punishment 
great storm. sen j. a great storm, which caused his ship to become 
unmanageable and threatened it with destruction. To save the vessel 

from foundering, 
the sailors were 
ordered to throw 
overboard all the 
freight; but this 
failed to dimin- 
ish the danger, 
for the wild waves 
dashed furiously 
over the bark and 
were filling it 
with water, which 
the sailors could 
not bale out fast 
enough to give 
them any hope 
of keeping the 
vessel much long- 
er afloat. In this 
dire extremity the 
vessel’s captain 
found Jonah 
asleep in the boat and, amazed at 
his apparent indifference to the danger, 
called on him to pray that they might 
be saved. Whether Jonah humbled him- 
self before God we know not, but in his 

SO THEY TOOK UP JONAH, AND CAST HIM . 1 - 

forth into the sea. -jonah 1. 1 5 . shame for having disobeyed the command 


The Man Knew that he Fled from the Presence of the Lord. 43 r 



given him to go to Nineveh, it is probable that he could not summon 
courage to offer a petition even for his own preservation. In any event 
God prompted a belief among the sailors that the storm was the result of 
His anger for a sin committed by some one on board; so they cast lots to 
determine upon whom the evil rested, and it fell upon Jonah. The sailors 
then asked him to what country he belonged and 
also what sin he had committed, to which he 
replied that he was a Hebrew and 
feared “ the God of heaven, which 
hath made the sea and dry land.” 

At this the sailors were afraid, 
and asked him why he had fled 
from the presence of the Lord, 

- and what they might do to him 
that the sea should be calmed. 

And he answered, “Take me up 
and cast me forth into the sea: 
so shall the sea be calm unto 
you ; for I know that for my sake 
this great tempest is upon you.” 

The sailors were reluctant to 
throw him overboard, even when 
Tonah told them that he merited 

J JONAH UPON THE DRY LAND. — Jonah 2. 10. 

this punishment, and that only 

by thus sacrificing him would the storm subside. They rowed hard to 
gain the shore, but finding their energies expended and their labor vain, 
they called to God not to lay upon them innocent blood, and 
to pardon the act by which they only hoped to save their At h,s requcst 

r Jonah is thrown 

own lives; so they threw the prophet into the sea, where- in tothesea. 
upon the storm immediately ceased. 

Though God had resolved to punish Jonah, He did not intend to 
destroy him, and therefore prepared a miraculous means for saving his 
life. As Jonah fell into the sea a great fish swallowed him, of what 
species we are not informed, nor is it important to know, since with God 


432 


Jonah Was in the Belly of the Fish Three Days . 


all things are possible; and whether the fish were a whale, shark, or 
now extinct creature, is wholly without consequence. 

Jonah remained in the fish’s belly for three days, during which time 
he prayed God to forgive his transgression, acknowledging the justice of 





JONAH BEGAN TO ENTER INTO THE 
CITY . — Jonah 3. 4. 

his punishment, and giving praise for 
the mercies and blessings shown him. 

At the end of three days Jonah was 
vomited up by the fish upon dry land, 
and was again commanded to go to 

Nineveh. This time Jonah obeyed the instructions God had given and 
went to Nineveh, and on the way apprised those whom he met that within 
forty days the city should be overthrown. When he came within the gates 
he preached to the people and to the king, exhorting them not to offend God 



It Displeased Jonah Exceedingly , and He was Very Angry. 433 

but to leave off their evil designs, for surely the Lord had said He would 
destroy the place and all that was in it. His exhortations and prophecy 
greatty distressed the king, who now put on sackcloth and ordered all his 
subjects to observe a fast and to praise God. So pious did the people 
appear that “ God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would 
do unto them; and He did it not.” The refusal of God to destroy 
Nineveh, as Jonah had prophesied, greatly angered the prophet, who con- 
sidered that the people would now hold him in disrespect Jonah dis 
for having falsely predicted the city’s destruction, and in pleased because 
his melancholy he called on God to take his life, since his Nineveh is 
disappointment was more than he could bear. He went out 
of the city and on the east side made a seat, where he rested until he 
could see what should be done to the city. God, observing him thus 
shelterless, caused a gourd to spring up out of the ground, and to spread 
its thick vine over him for a shelter from the sun, and to protect him 
from the dews at night. At this Jonah was greatly pleased, but on the 
second night a worm gnawed the vine so that it withered, and when day 
had dawned God caused a hot east wind to spring up which parched the 
earth, while the sun now beat down on Jonah’s unprotected head until he 
fainted from the heat, and again wished that he was dead. 

“And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the 
gourd? and he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then saith 
the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for which thou hast not 
labored, neither madest it to grow ; which came up in a night and per- 
ished in a night. And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, 
wherein are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern 
between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle ?” 


28 


CHAPTER XX. 



They carried away a great multitude captive and brought them to Damascus. 

fjFFENDING against God despite His mercies, the 
practices of all forms of abominations, in viola- 
tion of the Mosaic law, was at length to have 
another form of punishment. The Israelites 
once before had become captives, and their mirac- 
ulous deliverance might have prepared them for 
all time to know the true God and to keep His com- 
mandments, but their perverse spirits led them into fresh 
iniquities until to punish their stubbornness God resolved 
to deliver them again into captivity. 

In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz over Judah, Hoshea, the 
son of Elah, ascended the throne of Israel in Samaria, having assassinated 
Pekah to gain this dignity. Under him the ruin which set in with the 
rule of Jehoram, became complete. In morals he was hardly so good as 
the wicked kings who preceded him, while his abilities were of the most 
meagre character. He reinstituted the worship of Baal and of other 
gods ; and the horrid sacrifices of children, who were given to be burned 
Horrible prac- i n the arms of Moloch, became a daily observance with the 
tices of the people. He also made groves and set up images therein as 
Israelites. Ahab had done, and bowed before a host of wooden gods, 
besides renewing practices, first made common in the worship of Ash- 
taroth, too revolting to be chronicled. Under him, indeed, the people 
sunk into the lowest depths of depravity and infamy. His punishment 
was long deferred, but it was sent upon him at last. In the ninth and 
last year of his reign, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, and successor of 
Tiglath-pileser, became offended with him because he had sent rich 
presents to So, king of Egypt, but had withheld such evidences of regard 

( 434 ) 


Against Him Came Up Shalmaneser , King of Assyria . 


435 



and friendship from himself. Concluding that Israel was seeking a league 
with Egypt, Shalmaneser entered Israel at the head of a large army and 
laid siege to Samaria. The city held out for a period of three years but 
succumbed at last, and the Assyrians took 
Hoshea and all the subjects that were in Israel 
and carried them away captives to the cities of 
Halah and Habor. These places, however, 
could not contain them all, so that many of 
the captives were 
sold into bond- 
age to the 
Medes. 

The depop- 
ulation of Sam- 
aria and other 
cities of Israel 
was followed by 
a vast immigra- 
tion of Assy- 
rians from the 
cities of Baby- 
lon, Cut hah, 

Ava, Hamath, 
and Sepharvaim, 
who quickly re- 
peopled the towns, so that all of 
northern Palestine fell into posses- 
sion of Israel’s enemies. Thus ter- ephraim . . . mourned many days, and his 

BRETHREN CAME TO COMFORT HIM.— I Chron. 

minated the kingdom of Israel, hav- 7.22. 

ing endured two hundred and fifty-five years under nineteen kings and 
nine dynasties. 

Hezekiah, the son and successor of Ahaz, was twenty-five years of 
age when he ascended the throne, his accession being in the third year 
of the reign of Hoshea. He began immediately to undo the evil institutions 



436 After Him was None Like Hun Among all the Kings of Judah. 

of his father, one of his first acts being the reopening of the Temple and 
restitution of the things that had been taken from it. He also appointed 
Hezekiah, the priests of the Levites to cleanse the House of the Lord and 
second David. to ren ew the sacrifices therein. This work of cleansing 
occupied sixteen days, at the end of which time Hezekiah called the rulers 
together, and taking seven each of bullocks, rams, goats and lambs he 


went into the Temple to dedicate it anew and offer them up as a sacrifice 
for the sins of his people. This sacrifice was made a feast of rejoicing, 
at which the priests played on C}rmbals, harps and trumpets, while the 
people sang songs of praise. There were also brought during the feast, 
as contributions from the people, seventy oxen, a hundred rams and two 
hundred lambs, all of which were offered up by the priests. 


SO WAS ISRAEL CARRIED AWAY OUT OF THEIR OWN EAND TO 
ASSYRIA. — 2 Kings 17. 23. 


All the Congregation Worshiped and the Singers Sang. 


437 


Hezekiah's next act was to renew the Feast of the Passover, which 
had not been observed since the days of Solomon, and at this feast he 
made a covenant with God and sent letters to all of the ten tribes asking 
them to come and cele- 
brate with him. His 
hope evidently was to 
unite Israel and J udah, 
though the Bible nar- 
rative tells us that all 
those of the ten tribes 
had been carried away 
captive by the Assy- 
rian conqueror, as al- 
ready described. It is 
possible, indeed prob- 
able, that there were 
still remnants left in 
the far south that had 
escaped captivity, to 
whom Hezekiah sent 
his invitation. If, as 
the records state, all 
of Israel had been car- 
ried to Babylon, Hez- 
ekiah’s letters may 
have been addressed 
to the Assyrians who 
had been brought to 
repeople the cities of 
Israel. This version 
is not improbable, be- 
cause we are told that the Assyrian immigrants were punished for their 
idolatry in Samaria and other places in Israel by lions that were sent to 
destroy them, but upon learning that this visitation was on account of their 



43 8 / Will Send a Blast Upon Him , and He Shall Hear a Rumor. 


idolatry they sent to the Assyrian king for a prophet of Israel to come 
and teach them how to worship the true God. Such a teacher was sent, 
who, though not able to wean them from their own gods, effected a great 
reformation that resulted in the people becoming renowned for their 
charity. Ever afterward they were called the Samaritans. One of Christ’s 
most beautiful parables illustrates the kindness of these people. 

Though the transplanted Assyrians, who now occupied Israel, were 
inclined to generosity and goodness, they refused to participate in the 
•• Passover, and even sent back a scornful reply. A 


we re probably Israelites, 
the invitation, and all of 
Le to the feast. At this feast 
participated renewed their 
and as an earnest of their 



intention to serve God, 
gathered all the images 
they could find, also the 
altar of Ahaz, and threw 
them into the Kedron. 


There was peace and 
plenty in all Judali for 
the first fourteen years 
of Hezekiah’s reign, at 
the end of which time a 
great force of Assyrians, 


A IX THE PEOPLE, BOTH SMALL AND GREAT, . . . AROSE 
AND CAME TO EGYPT. — 2 Kings 25. 26. 


under King Sennacherib, invaded the country and set siege to all the 
walled cities and took them one after another until only Jerusalem was 
left. His immense army and invariable victories destroyed the courage 
of Hezekiah, who sent ambassadors to Sennacherib at Lachish, to inquire 
what tribute he would accept to withdraw his forces from Judah. The 
Assyrian monarch replied that he would give the country peace and retire 
to his own land upon payment of a sum equal to five hundred thousand 
dollars, which was cheerfully paid. But upon receiving the money Sen- 
nacherib’s cupidity was only increased, and he sent his army, under 
three of his best generals, to besiege Jerusalem. 


He shall not Come into this City, nor Shoot an Arrow. 


439 


When the Assyrians had surrounded the city they sent letters to 
Hezekiah, asking why he refused to open the gates to receive the army, 
at the same time admonishing him that if he continued to oppose them 
they would enter by force and treat him as an enemy. They further 
demanded a payment similar to that which Hezekiah had made to Senna- 



cherib, as the price of their with- 
drawal. As the king of Judah had 
exhausted his treasures in pay- 
ing the tribute to Senna- 
cherib, it was impossible 
to comply with this 
second demand, and de- ^ 
spairing of his ability 
to defend the city, 
he clothed himself 
in sackcloth, and go- 
ing into the Temple 
prayed to God for de- 
liverance from his j 
enemies. He also 
sent priests to Is- 
aiah, asking that 
prophet to pray for 
Judah, and to help him 
save the country from 
the destruction that 
threatened. Isaiah ordered the priests to return forthwith to Hezekiah 
and to tell him not to be afraid of the boastful words of the Assyrians, 
for God would cause them to abandon the siege, and that Sennacherib 
would speedily return to his own country, where he would die by the 
sword of one of his people. 

When Hezekiah heard the prophecy of Isaiah he was no longer con- 
cerned for his safety, knowing now that God had heard his prayers. On 
the same night the Lord sent a plague among the Assyrians, by which 


SENT UNTO HIM TO INQUIRE OF THE 
WONDER THAT WAS DONE IN THE 
UAND GOD UEFT HIM.— 2 Chroti. 32. 31. 


. 440 


/ have Heard thy Prayer , / have Seen thy Years . 


one hundred and eighty-five thousand were destroyed. In the morning 
the remnant fled out of Judah and to their own country. Sennacherib 
returned to Nineveh, where he soon after perished by the sword of his 



two sons while worshiping in the idol-house of Nisroch. 

Shortly after the deliverance of Judah from Sennacherib, Isaiah went 
to Hezekiah and bade him prepare for death, since God had 
Hezekiah miracu * ven £ 0 know that his end was near at hand. At this 

lously cured. & 

time the king was confined to his bed by a carbuncle that 
gave him great pain, so that the words of the prophet seemed to foretell 
the result of his affliction. When Hezekiah heard what was said he 

turned his 
face to the 
wall and wept 
bitterly, not 
because of his 
fear of death, 
but because he 
regretted that 
he was to be 
called in the 
midst of his 
labors of re- 
building the 
Temple and 
bringing Ju- 
dah to right- 

THE PROPHET ISAIAH . . . PRAYED AND CRIED TO HEAVEN. — 2 Chron. 32. 20. 

eousness. The 

zeal and virtue thus exhibited by Hezekiah moved God to spare his 
life, and Isaiah was sent back to tell the king that his prayer for a pro- 
longation of his years had been heard, and that in three days he should 
be healed and his life spared for fifteen more years. Then Isaiah made 
a poultice of figs and bound it upon the boil, as the Lord directed, and 
in three days his recovery was complete. But Hezekiah desired the 
prophet to show him by some sign that his days should be extended for 


This Shall be a Sign Unto Thee from the Lord . 441 

the time promised, whereupon Isaiah made the sun to move forward ten 
degrees, telling him that this should be the sign. Still Hezekiah was 
not satisfied, for he said to the prophet, “It is a light thing for the 
shadow to go down ten degrees, nay, but let the shadow return back ten 
degrees.” This sign was also given him, and he was then convinced that 
the promise would be fulfilled. 

The king of Babylon, hearing of what had been done for Hezekiah, 
sent letters and a rich present to him by his ambassadors, under pretence 



THE POOI. OF HEZEKIAH, JERUSALEM. 

of encouraging his friendship, but in reality to discover the wealth and 
condition of Judah, and whether it was an inviting field for invasion. 
Hezekiah received the ambassadors with great cordiality, and in a spirit 
of vanity and self-glorification he exhibited to them all his 
immense riches that had accumulated under the system of 
tithes which he established after holding the Feast of the 
Passover, and “ there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, 
that Hezekiah showed them not.” 


Hezekiah boasts 
his great riches. 


442 


He Used Witchcraft , and Dealt with a Familiar Spirit . 

Isaiah was greatly displeased at the vanity and imprudence of Heze- 
kiah, and coming to him, asked who were the visitors and what he had 
done. To this the king replied truthfully, telling him that the ambassa- 
dors were come from Babylon, and that he had showed them every rich 
and valuable thing in his kingdom. 

Then spoke the prophet to Hezekiah, “ Hear the word of the Lord. 
Behold, the days come that all that is in thine house, and that which 
thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into 
Babylon ; nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.” He also prophesied 
that some of his posterity would become servants in the palace of Baby- 
lonian kings. 

Hezekiah was very much cast down by the prophecy of Isaiah, 
knowing that all would come to pass, for he had received many evidences 
of the divine power of the prophet. Acknowledging, therefore, that what 
God had willed could not be set aside, he prayed that these evils should 
not befall Judah during his life, but that peace might be given him to 
the end of his days. Hezekiah devoted his latter years to the improve- 
ment of Jerusalem, his principal work being the building of an immense 
pool and conduit by which fresh water was supplied to the city. He 
died at the age of fifty-four, having reigned twenty-nine years, and was 
buried in Jerusalem. Hezekiah was childless a greater portion of his 
life, but when past forty } 7 ears of age he married a woman named Heph- 
zibah, by whom he had one son, Manasseh, who succeeded his father as 
ruler of Judah when but twelve years of age. 

Manasseh fell into the hands of evil counsel, and before he had 
become of age the people, whom Hezekiah had done so much for by way 
Capture and °f reformation, had relapsed into idolatry and had profaned 
restoration of the Temple by setting therein wooden images, to which 
Manasseh. they paid their daily devotions. Manasseh carried his 
iniquities yet further, for he killed all the righteous men in his country, 
and was as zealous in destroying every trace of true worship and substi- 
tuting idolatry as his father had been in purifying the kingdom. Men 
were sent to remonstrate with him and to prophesy the miseries that he 
would bring upon himself and people if he continued in his iniquities, 


443 


Took Manasseh . . . and Carried Him to Babylon. 



but this advice was not heeded, and God sent the kings of Babylon and 
Chaldea to punish him. These kings overran all Judah, laying waste 
its cities, killing the people, destroying the fields, and at last captured 
Manasseh himself and carried him away to Babylon bound in chains. 

How long he remained in Babylon, or 
how he spent the time is not recorded, but 
Josephus tells 
us that he re- 
pented heart- 
ily of his sins 
and lifted up 
his prayers to 
the living 
God, who at 
length caused 
him to be re- 
stored to his 
kingdom. 

Upon Manas- 
seh’s return, 

he tried to repair some of the great in- 
jury he had done by destroying the 
idols wherever they could be found, and 
by devoting himself to a religious life. 

He did not neglect Jerusalem, however, 
for he repaired the old walls and made 
a new one, and fortified them with many 
lofty towers. The latter years of his life were spent in such piety that 
he was a pattern for imitation. He died at the age of sixty~seven, 
and was buried in a sepulchre in his own garden. 

Amon became the successor of Manasseh, who was his father, but 
after reigning two years he was treacherously slain in his palace by his 
own servants, who, in turn, were killed by an incensed multitude, that 
afterward gave the throne to Amon’s son, Josiah, who was only eight 


THE VAEE OF SHECHEM. 


444 


To Repair the House of the Lord His God. 



years of age. In early youth he manifested a kind and loving disposition 
and when twelve years old he began to devote himself to religion and 
Amon murdered, the expulsion of idolatry from his kingdom. In many 
josiah becomes respects he was like David, and in piety and zeal for the 
k,ng ‘ establishing of the true worship of God he even excelled his 
great-grandfather, Hezekiah. Josephus attributes to him a wisdom far 
beyond what might be expected of one so young; for, in addition to his 

devotion to the service of God, he 
exhibited a rare judgment in the 
administration of the affairs of 
his kingdom. He cut down, 
and utterly destroyed, the 
groves that were devoted to 
strange gods, overthrew all 
their altars, broke images 
wherever he could find them, 
and then turned his atten- 
tion to repairing the Tem- 
ple, that had been dese- 
crated by Manasseh. For 
this purpose he solicited do- 
nations of gold and silver from 
all his subjects who were able 
to contribute, by which means 
he secured a very large treas- 
ure, and appointed four cura- 
such as are for the captivity, to the tors to take charge of the Tem- 

C APTIVITY . — jer. 15. 2. 1 . 

pie and its repairs. 

When the rebuilding was completed it was found that there was a 
large surplus of gold and silver left over, and this he gave in charge of 
Eliakim, the high-priest, with instructions to have the overplus used in 
casting cups, dishes, etc., for service in the Temple. While bringing out 
the treasures from the place where they were stored Eliakim found the 
holy books of Moses, which he . brought and read to the king. When he 


445 



Huldah, with a request that she pray to God to make him so righteous 
that he might not be in danger of being cast out of the country for the 
transgressions of his predecessors. The prophetess, however, could afford 
him no consolation, for she replied that God’s decrees were irrevocable, 


Thou Shalt be Gathered into thy Grave in Peace. 

had heard the law thus read Josiali rent his garments, for he perceived 
how frequently his forefathers had disobeyed the commands, and that the 
punishment for disobedience was disinheritance. He therefore called 
Eliakim, and Shaphan, a scribe, and sent them to a prophetess named 


SO THEY TOOK THE KING, AND BROUGHT HIM UP TO THE KING OF BABYLON.— 2 Kings 25. 6. 



446 He Slew all the Priests that were there Upon the Altars. 

and that sentence had already been given against the people : they would 
therefore be deprived of their present happiness and be taken captive as 
had already been prophesied ; she told the messengers to say to Josiah 
that though God had given this decree against Judah, that because of 
his righteousness He would delay these calamities, but that after the 
king’s death all the miseries promised would be sent upon the people. 

When Josiah had received the reply of Huldah, he called together at 
Jerusalem all the priests and Levites, and people of every age, and had 
Vengeance his scribes read to them all the books of Moses which set 

upon the forth their duty to God. After the reading was concluded, 

false prophets stood upon a pulpit and preached to his subjects the first 
sermon ever delivered. This discourse so pleased the people that upon 
his request they all made a covenant by oath to worship only God, and 
keep the laws of Moses. Josiah did not cease his labor of converting 
the country with these exhibitions of his piety, but he also ordered to 
be destroyed every vessel that had been used in the service of idols, and 
slew all the priests that were not of the family of Aaron, or such as 
those who were not appointed from among the Levites, as Moses had 
designated. He next ordered that all those buildings be destroyed that 
had been erected by Jeroboam wherein were set up golden calves for the 
people to worship, and upon the altars before these images he instructed 
his priests to collect the bones of Jeroboam’s false prophets and burn 
them. Thus was the prediction, uttered by Jadon three hundred and 
sixty-one years before, literally fulfilled. 

When the work of purification was complete, and not an idol or 
idolater was in all the land, Josiah called the people together again at 
Jerusalem and celebrated the feast of unleavened bread and of the Pass- 
over. On this occasion, which was the greatest since the day of Samuel, 
there were sacrificed thirty-seven thousand lambs and three thousand five 
hundred oxen. 

Judah had undisturbed peace and prosperity for a period of thirty 
years under Josiah’s wise rulership, all neighboring kings holding him 
in high regard, while within the kingdom there were no feuds or 
jealousies, the people being devotedly attached to him. His death was 


Necho , King of Egypt , fEbz/ Up Against the King of Assyria. 447 



due to the maintenance of a principle which is now accepted by all the 
nations of the earth, viz : a denial of the right of one nation to march its 
army across the territory of another without first gaining permission 
to do so ; a violation of this principle is considered as equivalent to an 
invasion. 

Necho, king of Egypt, raised an immense army for the purpose of 
invading Assyria, which had, only a short time before, been conquered by 
the Medes and Babylonians. To 
reach the Assyrians it was ne- 
cessary for Necho to march across 
Palestine which he undertook 


AS HE WAS WORSHIPING, . . . HIS SONS SMOTE HIM WITH THE SWORD.— Isa. 37. 38. 


to do without so much as asking permission of Josiah. His passage, how- 
ever, was disputed by such an army as Josiah was able hastily to summon. 
Necho sent a message to the king of Judah, upon finding himself opposed, 
to the effect that he had no designs upon any portion of Palestine, and 
hoped that Josiah would not provoke a quarrel with him by obstructing 
his march. Josiah was not to be intimidated, however, and set about 


448 


His Servants Carried in a Chariot Dead from Megiddo. 



posting his army. As he was driving from one wing of his army to 
another, giving orders, the Egyptians came up and discharged their 
arrows, one of which struck Josiah mortally. When their king fell the 
retreat was sounded by the Hebrews, who fled back to Jerusalem, carry- 
ing Josiah with them. He died a few days after, at the age of thirty- 
nine years, and was buried in the royal sepulchres, amid the universal 
mourning of his people. Jeremiah was for eighteen 
years contemporary with Josiah, residing in Jerusa- 
lem, and gives us to know how beloved was the king 
by a lamentation which the prophet composed, and 

which is re- 
orded in 2 
C hronicles 

XXXV. 


SENNACHERIB . . . ENTERED INTO JUDAH AND ENCAMPED AGAINST THE FENCED CITIES.— 2 Chron. 32. 1. 


Josiah was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz, at the age of twenty-three 
years. He was a coarse, brutish man, whose impious reign was cut short 
by Necho, under a strategy. As the Egyptian king was returning from 
his war in Assyria, he sent for Jehoahaz to visit him at Hamath, which 
was in Syria, under pretence of a desire to honor him. But when Jehoahaz 
came to Necho he was put in irons and taken to Egypt, where he died, 
having reigned less than four years. The kingdom passed frgm Jehoahaz 
to his half-brother, Eliakim, whose name was then changed to Jehoiakim. 


449 


The Lord Sent Against Him Bands of the Chaldees. 


This king ruled as a vassal of the Egyptians, to whom he was compelled 
to pay tribute (laid as taxes upon the land), of nearly $200,000 annually. 

Jehoiakim was no better than Jehoahaz, for he set up idols, and, in 
addition to leading the people into idolatry again, was merciless in his 

r ggp w M ij disposition and an oppressor 

of his subjects. In the fourth 
year of Jehoiakim ’s reign Neb- 







NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON, 

CAME, HE AND A ED HIS HOST, AGAINST 
JERUSALEM. — 2 Kings 25. 1. 

uchadnezzar became king of Babylon, and 
no sooner had he gained the throne than 
he set about driving Necho out of Syria, 
which country the Egyptian king had 
conquered. In a battle which soon after took place, Necho lost many 
ten thousands of his men, and was driven out of Syria, so that Nebu- 
chadnezzar passed the Euphrates and made himself master of all the 
country as far as Pelusium, excepting Judah. By his conquests three 
years later, however, he demanded tribute from Jehoiakim, which that 


45 ° 


At the Commandment of the Lord came this Upon Judah. 



king was forced to pay to preserve his kingdom. This tribute he paid 
two years, but on the third year Jehoiakim sought to take advantage 
of a war which had now broken out between Nebuchadnezzar and the 
king of Egypt, and believing that his enemy was too weak to enforce the 
tribute while fighting a powerful king, refused 
to continue the payments. His 
hopes, however, were upon a 
poor foundation, for Nebu- 
chadnezzar soon routed the 
Egyptians, and now 
turned upon Judah his 
great and apparently in- 
vincible army. Jeremiah 
had daily prophesied 
concerning the destruc- 
tion that would be 
brought upon Judah, but 
yet the king took no heed 
to his words and continued 
in his abominable ways. He 
had also foretold how 
Judah would rely upon 
Egypt in an evil hour, 
and for this reliance 
Jerusalem would be cap- 
tured and the king con- 
quered. His prophesies so 
far from warning the people,, 
excited their anger and en- 
mity. He was at length seized and brought before Jehoiakim for sen- 

tence. A majority of the judges and the king himself were in favor of 
killing him, but the elders refused to give their consent to so harsh a 
sentence, and succeeded in saving his life by admonishing the king that 
many other prophets had foretold the same things now prophesied by 








FOR IT IS the day of the lord’s vengeange. — 

Isa. 34. 8. 


Against Him Came up Nebuchadnezzar , King of Babylon. 


45 1 


- 1 ■ 

-• & ■ • m 

2 

* . . ■■•a 


Jeremiah, and therefore it was wrong to punish him for the sins that 
others had committed. By these arguments Jehoiakim was persuaded to 
release the prophet, but a short while after, while the people were cele- 
brating a fast in their Temple, Jeremiah read all his prophesies from a 
book in which they had been written down by a scribe named Baruch. 
When the rulers heard of this act they seized the book and carried it 
to the king, but suffered Jeremiah and 
Baruch to escape. Jehoiakim, however, sent 
for one of his sons, named Jehudi, to 
read the book. As the prince proceeded, 
the king cut off from the 
manuscript pieces as they 
were read and threw them 
into the fire until all the 
written prophecies were con- 
sumed. God now instructed 
Jeremiah to write anew his 
prophecies, to which were 
added that of the destruc- 
tion of Judah, and with these 
the prophet vainly besought 
the people to turn from 
their wicked ways before it 
was too late. 

The final catastrophe, 
as predicted by Jeremiah, 
came upon Jehoiakim in 

the seventh year of his reign. Nebuchadnezzar stirred up against him 
the Ammonites, Moabites, and Syrians, who now overran Palestine 
and demanded the surrender of Jerusalem. Jehoiakim made Jerusalem 
no resistance, thinking if he admitted the enemy into taken by 

, .. 1 1 . - Nebuchadnezzar. 

the city that they would commit no depredations and 

would spare the lives of its inhabitants, but in this he was deceived, for 

Nebuchadnezzar slew a majority of the people, including many of the 





IEZEKIAH . . . SPREAD 
IT BEFORE THE FORD. — 
Isa. 37. i 4 - 


452 


The Mighty of the Land , Those Carried He into Captivity. 



elders and people of dignity and position; lie also killed Jelioiakim and 
ordered his body to be thrown before the walls, as unworthy of burial, 
and after committing other acts of wantonness seized ten thousand of 
the principal persons of wealth of the city and carried them away as 
captives to Babylon. Among these captives was the prophet Ezekiel, who 

was a very young man at the 
time, and of whom we shall 
read much hereafter. 

Upon the death of Jeho- 
iakim, Nebuchadnezzar per- 
mitted his son and right- 
f u 1 heir, 
named Jeho- 
iachin, to as- 
c e n d the 
throne, b ut 
this unfortu- 
nate prince 
had ruled only 
three months 
when Nebu- 
chadnezzar, repenting 
that he had given the 
kingdom to one who must bear 
him a grudge for killing his father, 
sent his army and besieged Jeho- 
iachin in Jerusalem. Knowing that 

I WIIJ, BRING A NATION 

upon YOU FR0M FAR.- he could not hold out long against 
the vastly superior numbers which 
Nebuchadnezzar had thrown around the city, and understanding the motive 
which had prompted the Babylonian king to make war, he surrendered 
the city, first exacting a promise that he and his people would be suf- 
fered to depart without molestation. This promise was broken on the 
moment that Jerusalem fell into his power, for Nebuchadnezzar ordered 


He Humbled not Himself before feremiah the Prophet. 


453 



his officers to take the king and all his family captives, and bring 
them bound as slaves to him ; he also commanded that the people, 
both old and young, be similarly taken, of which there were bound with 
thongs ten thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and brought to him 
to serve in bondage. The kingdom was then given to Zedekiah, who 
was the uncle of the deposed 
but 


king, but not until he had 
taken an oath of perpetual 
loyalty to Babylon and to 
abstain from any league of 
friendship with tl& Egyptians. 

Zedekiah was twenty-one 
years of age when he assumed 
the nominal rulership of Judah. 

He is represented as a man 
devoid of the princi- 
ples of justice and a 
depraved disposition. 

His impiety pro- 
duced alarm, for 
even those who 
were but little bet- 
ter in their morals 
than he foresaw 
that his end must 
be a bad one, while 
the condition of the 
was greatly de- 
much distressed at 
young king, and 

his evil ways, and above all to refuse to give credit to the false prophets 
who wrongfully advised him that neither Egypt nor Babylon would make 
war against him. Zedekiah was at first disposed to believe the words of 
Jeremiah, and promised to do as he was bidden, but when again in the 


BEHOLD, A PEOPLE COMETH 
FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. 
— Jer. 6 . 22. 

people under such a ruler 
based. Jeremiah was 
the wickedness of the 
besought him to abandon 


454 


Zedekiah Rebelled Against the King of Babylon. 



company of his friends, who were enemies of Jeremiah, he preferred their 
counsel. About this time Ezekiel sent a prophecy to Zedekiah foretelling 
the calamities that would come upon him, in which respect his predic- 
tions were identical with those of Jeremiah, excepting that the former 
declared Zedekiah should be taken captive, but that he would never see 


Babylon, while the 
would be carried to 
of this disagree- 
cies Zedekiah de- 
the truth, and, 
ued his evil ways, 
eight years, Zede- 
Babylon and es- 


latter prophesied that the king 
Babylon in chains. On account 
ment in the two prophe- 
clared that neither spoke 
therefore, he contin- 
After a rule of 
kiah revolted from 
tablished a league 
with the Egyp- 
tians for the 
purpose of in- 
vading Syria. 
As soon as this 
intention became 
known to Nebuchad- 
nezzar he entered Ju- 
dah at the head of a 
great army, and after 
capturing many smaller 
towns started to be- 
siege Jerusalem. The 
king of Egypt came to Ze- 
dekiah’s relief, however, 
and engaged the king of 
Babylon in a battle, but 
with the most disastrous 
results to himself; for Nebuchadnezzar easily defeated him and drove 
him out of the country with immense loss. But this engagement saved 
Zedekiah and Jerusalem for a time, and was taken advantage of by the 


AND DET THEM MAKE HASTE, AND TAKE UP A 
WAITING FOR US.— Jer. 9. 18. 


455 



They Took Jeremiah and Cast Him into the Dungeon. 

false prophets to foretell that the king of Babylon would not make war 
against Judah again, but would soon return the captives taken away at 
the time that Jerusalem surrendered. Jeremiah, however, prophesied to 
the contrary; declaring that Nebuchadnezzar would again besiege Jeru- 
salem and would destroy many of the people by famine and spoil every- 
thing in the city, and then carry 
away the inhabitants that had 
survived into captivity, 
where they should serve 
for a period of seventy 
years. 

The prophecies of 
Jeremiah were accepted 
by man}' of the people 
as a revelation of God, 
but the chief rulers 
charged him with un- 
justly alarming the 
country, and when he 
was on his way to Ana- 
thoth they seized him 
and cast him into a 
dungeon, the bottom of 
which was mire. Here 
he was kept for a time, 
but finally delivered, 
though not until he had 
been subjected to other 
torments. Though brought up out of the mire by an order from the 
king, he was not permitted to go free, but was detained in prison and fed 
on bread and water, to await Zedekiah’s pleasure. 

In the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah 
and laid siege to Jerusalem, before which he built forts and set up batter- 
ing rams and engines for throwing arrows and great stones. He remained 


THEN SHAIyT THOU BREAK THE BOTTEE IN THE SIGHT 
OF THE MEN. — jer. 19. 10. 


45 ^ 


Obey . . . the Voice of the Lord , which I Speak unto Thee. 



before Jerusalem, hedging in all the inhabitants for eighteen months, at 
the end of which time a famine broke out in the city, followed by a 
plague that destroyed thousands of people. From his prison quarters 
Jeremiah cried out and sought to prevail with the 


" - - w 

THUN TOOK THEY JEREMIAH AND 
CAST HIM INTO THE DUNGEON. 

-Jer. 38. 6. 

king and his counselors to open 
the gates and admit the enemy, 
for by so doing the people would 
be spared, but if they refused 
then the king of Babylon would 
capture Jerusalem at last and put every one therein to the sword. 
The elders continued to advise Zedekiah against the warnings of 


Let No Man Know of These Words , and Thou Shalt Not Die. 457 



Jeremiah, which they characterized as the vaporings of a madman, but 
the king, while afraid to openly reject the elders’ advice, secretly sent 
for Jeremiah and asked him to foretell what circumstances would transpire, 
assuring him that he might speak freely without danger to his life. 
Jeremiah, thus assured, told the king again of what calamities would befall 
him if he held out and refused to surrender the city. Zedekiah was so 
impressed by Jeremiah’s words that he de- 
sired to follow the prophet’s advice, but 
was restrained by the fear that such a course, 
being so bit- 
terly opposed 
by the people, 
would invite 
destruction at 
the hands of 
his subjects ; 
but he was 
just enough 
to give Jere- 
miah his free- 
dom. 

Everything 
came to pass 
as the prophet N 
had foretold. 

The Babylo- AIA THAT DWEEU in thine; house shale go INTO CAPTIVITY.— Jer. 20. 6 . 

nians captured 

Jerusalem at last, and committed it to pillage and the flames. Nebu- 
zaradan, Nebuchadnezzar’s principal general, first pillaged the Temple, from 
which he carried away all the gold and silver, the large laver which 
Solomon had dedicated, the brazen pillars of Boaz and Jachin, and their 
beautiful chapiters, and the golden tables and candlesticks, the whole 
composing a treasury of riches of almost inestimable value. Having 
secured these treasures he set fire to the Temple and royal palace and 


458 He Put Out Zedekiah* s Eyes , and Bound Him with Chains. 


reduced them to ashes. When this destruction was complete, the Babylo- 
nians continued their depredations upon other buildings of the city, and 
seized all the people, among whom were the high-priest and rulers, several 
hundred in number. These latter were taken in chains to Riblah, where 
Nebuchadnezzar had his palace, and there publicly beheaded, but the common 
people were spared to become slaves to the Syrians, as Jeremiah had foretold. 

Zedekiah contrived to make his escape from Jerusalem, with his family 
and intimate friends, by passing through a ditch, but he was overtaken 
and captured near Jericho, and was taken to Riblah with the other 
prisoners. When carried into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar he was 
bitterly reproached by the Babylonian king for his ingratitude, and for 
the crime of having broken the compact which he had made to remain 
loyal to Babylon, and as a punishment for his treason Nebuchadnezzar 


ordered that his eyes be burned out and all his sons and 
kinsmen slain. The blind and captive Zedekiah was then 
taken to Babylon, where he was kept in prison until his 


Zedekiah has his 
eyes burned out. 


death, at which he was buried by Nebuchadnezzar with the magnificent 
honors accorded a favored king. 

The destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Judah occurred four 
hundred and seventy years six months and ten days after the building 
and dedication of the Temple, and one thousand and sixty-two years six 
months and ten days after the hegira from Egypt. Josephus also esti- 
mates that from the time of the Deluge to the destruction of the Temple 
was one thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven years six months and 
ten days, and from the time of Adam, three thousand five hundred and 
thirteen years six months and ten days. 

A remnant of Judah, the poorest in the land, was suffered to remain 
in their country to be wine-growers and husbandmen. Over these Nebu- 
Thc murder chadnezzar appointed Gedaliah to be ruler, but he served only 
of Gedaliah. a s h 0 rt time when Ishmael, of the seed royal, brought a 
party of ten adherents into Judah, and being invited to dine with Geda- 
liah, seized the occasion to ply the king with wine until he was drunk 
to unconsciousness, and then treacherously murdered him, together with 
all the Jews in the city. 


Nethaniah Slew Them , and Cast Them Into the . . . Pit. 


459 


Two days after the murder of Gedaliah eighty mourners came to do 
honor to the remains of their king, but seventy of these were also 
mercilessly massacred by Ishmael and their bodies hidden in a pit. Ten 
only were spared because of their pitiable supplications for mercy. Ish- 



mael then took the people of Miz- 
pah, where his murders had been committed, 
and carried them off as captives toward 


woe: be unto thee, o 

MOAB ! . . . FOR THY SONS 
ARE TAKEN CAPTIVES, AND 
THY DAUGHTERS CAP- 
TIVES. — Jer. 48.' 46. 


Ammon, but he was pursued by a Jewish captain named Johanan, who 


overtook him at Gibeon and released his captives. 

Johanan went to Bethlehem, where he inquired of Jeremiah what 
Jehovah desired him to do. Ishmael had fled southward, intending 


460 All the People , both Great and Small . . . Came to Egypt. 

to reach Egypt in order to escape a punishment from Nebuchad- 
nezzar for murdering Gedaliah, and thither Johanan also went, but 
Jeremiah warned him against going to Egypt, but promised him God’s 
protection if he would remain in Judah. His warning was accom- 
panied by a prophecy to the effect that if he went to Egypt he would 
be afflicted with pestilence and famine, and in the end Nebuchadnezzar 
would find and punish him. So far from being advised by the prophet, 
Nebuchadnezzar Johanan seized him and the scribe Baruch, and carried 
makes himself them with him to Egypt, and also the small remnant of 
kmg of the earth. j ews h a( J shown their loyalty to Gedaliah. A few 

Jews had preceded these to Egypt and formed communities in Migdol, 
Noph, Pathros and Tahpanhes, where they fell into idolatry. Jeremiah 
threatened these with the vengeance of God and of Nebuchadnezzar, 
which prophecy was soon afterward fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar made an 
expedition southward, but under what pretence is not recorded. He 
besieged Tyre, which capitulated after an heroic resistance of thirteen 
years, after which the victorious king led his army into Egypt, and 
deposing Apries, the Egyptian king, set up a vassal in the person of 
Aniasis, thus making himself virtually ruler of the then known world. 
God had made Nebuchadnezzar an instrument for the final fall and com- 
plete punishment of the Israelites for their idolatry and manifold trans- 
gressions, and the fulfillment of the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. 
The king took away all the Jews out of Egypt and carried them cap- 
tives to Babylon, thus leaving Judah a waste, which it continued to be 
for a period of seventy years. 


CHAPTER XXL 



Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

^IBLE re'cords, as before explained, are not a 
consecutive history of the Jews, and the 
books of the Bible, therefore, cannot be fol- 
lowed, one after another, else the reader 
would become confused by the repetitions 
which he would find. 2 Kings is followed 
by Chronicles, and then by the books of 
Ezra, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Eccle- 
siastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations and 
Ezekiel. The most of these are the repeated 
record of Kings, and others the writings of 
Solomon. We must therefore pass over these 
to Daniel. This latter book gives a partial history of the Jews in their 
Babylonish captivity, though it carries us back almost to the beginning 
of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, thus ante-dating by nearly thirty years some 
of the records already given. The consecutive narrative follows with 
Ezra, after Daniel, which describes the return of the Israelites out of 
their seventy years of .bondage in Babylon. 

The Babylonians quickly discovered the good parts and learning of 
their Jewish captives, and were not long in improving their condition, as 
the Egyptians had done before them. Although we are told 
that Nebuchadnezzar put to death all the sons and kinsmen 
of Zedekiah, there is a manifest error either in the Scrip- 
tural account or the record as given by Josephus, for it is Zcd ckiah’s 
expressly stated by Josephus that Nebuchadnezzar “ took 
some of the most noble of the Jews that were children , and the kinsmen 
of Zedekiah , their king, and delivered them into the hands of tutors,” to 

(461) 


Nebuchadnez- 
zar reserves 
some of 






00 


(462 ) 


BABYLON IS SUDDENLY FALLEN AND DESTROYED. — Jer. 51. 







God Brought Daniel into Favor . 


463 


be instructed in all the learning of the Chaldeans. The Bible says : 
“ And the king spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he 
should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and 
of the prince sf to be likewise instructed. The probabilities are favorable 
to the supposition that only a portion of Zedekiah’s house was destroyed 
by the order of Nebuchadnezzar, a supposition rendered more probable by 
the fact that it was a practice common to all Jewish kings to be married 
to many wives, and by them to raise up a considerable number of 
children. 

In any event, the king of Babylon gave orders that the comeliest, 
and those giving the best promise of easy training, be taken from the 
house of Zedekiah and put to school to be instructed in the wisdom, cun- 
ning, knowledge and’ science of the Chaldeans, who were reckoned as a 
learned people. Nebuchadnezzar also made provision for the care of these 
Jewish pupils by furnishing them with provisions and wine from his own 
table for a period of three years, at the end of which time they were 
expected to be worthy to “ stand before the king,” or to answer such 
questions as the king might wish to put to them. Among the number 
first chosen were four sons of Zedekiah, named respectively Daniel, Han- 
aniah, Mishael and Azariah. The names of these were changed, however, 
upon entering the school to the following : Daniel was called Belteshazzar ; 
Hananiah, Shadrach ; Mishael, Meshach ; and Azariah, Abednego. Daniel, 
however, preserved his original name, for in the records of his life he is 
called by no other. 

In the beginning of their instruction Daniel made a request of Ash- 
penaz that, instead of giving himself and brethren the rich meats and 
other foods from the king’s table, his diet might be only Danic , nour _ 
pulse (which was a pottage made of meal) and dates. Ash- ishedby 
penaz was willing to please them, but he admonished them s P ,r,tual food * 
that such food would not serve as a sufficient nourishment and that their 
bodies would grow thin, which would make the king inquire why they had 
been improperly fed. To this Daniel replied that * rpose was to avoid 
a rich diet, because it would make him effeminate and prevent the rapid 
acquisition of knowledge, a matter which proved that he was already well 


464 Nebuchadnezzar Dreamed , Wherewith His Spiidt was Troubled. 



instructed in the effects of food upon the brain. Ashpenaz was thus 
persuaded to let Daniel and his brothers make a trial of ten days to dis- 
cover what effect so sparse a diet would have, but at the end of that time 
he was surprised to see them, instead of growing thinner, much plumper, 
as if they had lived luxuriously. The four made such rapid progress in 

their studies that at the 
end of three years there 
were none in all Baby- 
lon accounted so learned 
as they, for besides the 
wisdom they had gained 
at school, God had given 
to them the ability to 
interpret dreams, by 
which they became ora- 
cles to all the people. Two 
years after Nebuchadnezzar 
had conquered Egypt he had a 
dream which gave him great con- . 
cern, for he believed that it was 
a portent of something which 
would befall himself or kingdom ; 
but upon rising in the morning 
he was unable to recall to mind 
more than the impression it had 
produced. It was the custom in 
Assyria, as well as in Israel, 
Egypt, and other countries of the 
time, for kings to maintain magicians, soothsayers and prophets, in whose 
powers to foretell events and interpret dreams the most implicit confidence 
was placed. Therefore, when Nebuchadnezzar desired an interpretation 
of the vision which he had beheld in his sleep, he sent for several of the 
Chaldean prophets, of whom he requested an explanation of his dream. 
They pretended to a wisdom far beyond that which they really possessed, 


AMONG THESE WERE OF THE CHILDREN 
OF JUDAH. — Dan 1 . 6. 



The Decree Went Forth that the Wise Men Should be Slain. 465 

and told the king that if he would relate to them the particulars of his 
dream that they would give him a true interpretation thereof. This made 
Nebuchadnezzar very angry, for he said if they really were able to forecast 
the future they could also tell him 
what he had dreamed, without the 
necessity of any ex- 
planation from him of 
what his dream had 
been. When he found 
that they could afford 
him no satisfaction 
he ordered that all 
the so-called wise 
men be put to death 
as imposters. 

When Daniel heard 
of this harsh com- 
mand of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and had 
learned the cause, 
he went to Arioch, 
captain of the 
king’s guards, and 
besought him to 
prevail on the 
king to defer the 
execution of the 
men against 
whom his order 

,,700 Air-cmi-oA frvr Q THERE IS NONE OTHER THAT CAN SHEW IT BEFORE THE KING, EXCEPT 

was directed ior a TH e GODS . — Dan . 2 

single night, 

promising, if he would do so, to make an inquiry of God, through prayer, 
for an interpretation of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar, having heard what 
Daniel had promised, commanded his guards not to molest the magicians 

30 


466 The Secret Was Revealed unto Daniel in a Night Vision. 



until he should renew his order, for he hoped that he might obtain, 
through the wise young Hebrew, a description and explanation of the 
dream that was so vexing him. Daniel and his three brothers now retired 

to their own house and spent the night 
in an earnest entreaty to God that He 
might reveal to them what the king 

had dreamed 
and the in- 
terpretation 
thereof, which 
request God 
condescended 
to grant out 
of pity for 
those against 
whom Nebu- 
chadnezzar’s 
anger was di- 
rected, and 
because of 
the piety of 
Daniel and 
his three 
righteous 
brothers. On 
the following 
day, at his re- 
quest, Daniel 
was brought 
before the 
king, by Ari- 
och, and to 
him the young 

THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION, O KING, AND THIS IS THE DECREE.— Dan. 4. 24. prOphet Spoke 


Thy Dream , and the Visions of thy Head Upon thy Bed are These. 467 


in a spirit of great humility declaring that he did not pretend to greater 
wisdom than the other Chaldeans, nor to the possession of any knowledge 
beyond that which God chose to reveal to him. He then told the king 
how he had prayed for that understanding which would enable him to 
discover his dream and to give an interpretation of it, at the same time 
rebuking him for his cruel order, and for requiring of his wise men that 
which God alone was able to perform. He then made his revelation to the 
king as follows : 

‘ ‘ Wherefore, as thou in thy sleep wast solicitious concerning those that should succeed 

thee in the government of the whole world, God was desirous to show thee all those that 

should reign after thee, and to that end exhibited to thee the following 

dream : — Thou seemedst to see a great image standing before thee, The ,nter P rcta 

tion of the 

the head of which proved to be gold, the shoulders and arms of king . s d rcam 
silver, and the belly and the thighs of brass, but the legs and feet 
of iron ; after which thou sawest a stone broken off from a mountain, which fell upon 
the image and threw it down, and brake it to pieces, and did not permit any part of it to 
remain whole ; but the gold, the silver, the brass, and the iron became smaller than meal, 
which, upon the blast of a violent wind was by force carried away, and scattered abroad ; 
but the stone did increase to such a degree that the whole earth beneath it seemed to be 
filled therewith. This is the dream which thou sawest, and its interpretation is as follows : 
— The head of gold denotes thee, and the kings of Babylon that have been before thee ; 
but the two hands and arms signify this, that your government shall be dissolved by two 
kings ; but another king that shall come from the west armed with brass, shall destroy 
that government ; and another government, that shall be like unto iron, shall put an end 
to the power of the former, and shall have dominion over all the earth, of the nature of 
iron, which is stronger than that of gold, of silver, and of brass.” 

Continuing his interpretation and prophecy, Daniel said: “And in 
the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which 
shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be 

„ _ , 1 • 1 Predictions of the 

left to other people, but it shall break m pieces and con- . . 

r r i r coming of Christ. 

sume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. For- 
asmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without 
hands, and that it brake to pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, 
and the gold, the great God hath made known to the king what shall 
come to pass hereafter; and the dream is certain, and the interpretation 
thereof sure.” 


468 


Daniel Sat in the Gate of the King . 



When Nebuchadnezzar had received this revelation he bowed down 
before Daniel in an attitude of worship, and commanded the people to 
make sacrifices to him as God. More than this, he imposed the name of 
his own god, Balthasar, upon him, and made him ruler over all Babylon, 
and appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego governors of the prov- 

vinces of Babylon. 'Nebuchadnezzar was so im- 
pressed with the divine nature of 
Daniel that he desired 
to make a manifesta- 
tion of his faith and 
belief in the 
true God, and 
at the same 
time elevate 


THEN THE KING MADE DANIEE A GREAT 
MAN.— Dan. it. 48. 


Daniel to a position in the hearts of his people only one degree less than 
that of God himself; so he ordered made a gigantic image of gold, 
Daniel exalted ninety feet in height and of a breadth of nine feet, which 
as a god. was set U p t ^ e p] a { n 0 f D ura> in the province of Babylon, 
and upon its dedication he commanded that at the sound of a chorus 
of musical instruments, every person in all his dominions should bow 



We will not Serve thy Gods , nor Worship the Golden Image. 469 

down and worship it, threatening those who refused with the terrible 
penalty of being cast into a fiery furnace. 

From the reading and connection we can hardly escape the belief 
that this image was designed to represent Daniel, and its worship was 
therefore the worship of Daniel, as the king had done at the time his 
dream was interpreted. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, though no 
doubt anxious to honor 
their brother 
Daniel, or to do 


1,0, I SEE FOUR MFN LOOSE, WALKING IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE Dan. 3. 25. 


the king’s bidding when it did not conflict with their duty to God, 
refused to pay homage to the image, and being accused and brought 
before Nebuchadnezzar, they told him that not even the fear of a fiery 
furnace would compel them to bow down to idols in disobedience to 
God’s law. This resistance to his commands so angered the king that 
he at once gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it 


470 Fell Down Bound into the Midst of the . . . Fiery Furnace . 

had ever been before, and to bind the three offenders in their coats 
and cast them into the flames. The heat was so intense that those 
who executed the king’s order were destroyed by coming so near the 
mouth of the furnace, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego no sooner 
fell into the fiery pit than they stood up and walked about in the flames 
unharmed, for God had, even here, given them His protection. Nebuchad- 
nezzar, covered with confusion and astonishment when told of the 
miracle, looked into the furnace and there beheld the three Hebrews and 
the vision of a fourth man, who bore the sign of the Son of God; so he 
called them by name and begged them to come to him, and thus satisfy- 
ing himself of the miraculous protection which had been afforded them, 
he turned to worship God. He also issued a decree that any one who 
should thereafter speak disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach 
and Abednego should be cut into pieces and their houses laid waste, and 
promoted the three righteous Hebrews to positions of greater trust in his 
empire. 

A short time after the marvelous incident just described Nebuchad- 
nezzar saw in his sleep another vision, and sent again to the soothsayers 
Nebuchadnezzar f° r an interpretation, but, though this time he repeated to 
has a second them his dream, none of them were able to tell to him its 
strange dream, portent, so he called for Daniel, who came promptly and 
inquired of the king what his dream was, to which Nebuchadnezzar 
answered : 

“ I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was 
great. The tree grew and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and 
the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit 
thereof much, and in it was meat for all ; the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and 
the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw, 
and behold a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven. He cried aloud, and said 
thus : ‘ Hew down the tree and cut off the branches, shake off the leaves and scatter the 

fruit ; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. Neverthe- 
less, leave the stump of the roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the 
tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be 
with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let 
a beast’s heart be given unto him ; and let seven times pass over him. This matter is by 


Tell Me the Visions of My Dream That I Have Seen . 471 



the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones ; to the intent 
that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.’ 

“ This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now then, O Belteshazzar (Bal- 
tasar of Josephus), declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of 
my kingdom are not able to make known 
unto me the interpretation ; but thou art 
able ; for the spirit of the holy gods is in 
thee.” 

Upon hearing the king’s dream 
Daniel stood for an hour without 
speaking, manifesting by his coun- 
tenance that he was sorely troubled 
because he knew that the vision 
was of bad import, and he feared 
to explain its meaning lest he 
should give offence to the king. 

Upon being assured by Nebu- 
chadnezzar that he might speak 
plainly and without fear, Daniel 
told him that the tree in its 
greatness represented his kingdom in its 
extent and power, but the Holy One sent 
to hew down the tree had an evil signifi- 
cance, for it implied that he should be driven from 
among men and be made to dwell with the beasts 
of the field, and to feed upon grass with oxen for 
a period of seven years. The stump of the tree 
that was ordered to be left indicated that his 
kingdom should not be taken away from him, but 
that he should return to rule Babylon at the end 
of the time appointed by God for his ostracism from among men. 
Daniel also exhorted him to leave off his sins, and to begin at once a 
course of righteousness by showing mercy to the poor. We are not 
told in what particular Nebuchadnezzar was sinful, but it is probable 


AT THE END OF THE 
DAYS ... I LIFTED 
UP MINE EYES TO 
HEAVEN.— Dan. 4. 34. 



i r> 


BELSHAZZAR THE KING MADE A GREAT FEAST TO A THOUSAND OF HIS LORDS, AND DRANK WINE. — Dan. 




He was Driven from Men , and Did Eat Grass as Oxen. 473 

that his great dominion and enormous wealth had inclined his heart 
constantly to vanity and self-glorification, amounting to a worship of 
power and riches, and that God had, therefore, taken His own mysteri- 
ous way to humble him. This supposition is further strengthened by the 
events that succeeded, for a twelvemonth after the interpretation of his 
dream, while walking in his palace, giving voice to his own praises by 
declaring that it was he alone that had built Babylon and extended its 
powers for his own honor and glory, a voice from heaven cried out to 
him : “ O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken ; the Nebuchadnezzar 
kingdom is departed from thee.” In the same moment he stricken with 
was stricken with insanity and went out into the fields, as ^sanity. 
Daniel had foretold, and became like a beast, and there lived “ till 
his hairs were grown like eagle’s feathers and his nails like bird’s 
claws.” 

At the end of seven years, however, the king’s reason returned, 
and at the same time his counselors and officers who had administered 
the government in his absence sought him and brought him back to the 
throne again. 

He, therefore, acknowledged God and sang to Him praises such 
as these : “ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King 
of heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment; and those 
who walk in pride He is able to abase.” 

Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylonia for forty-three years, during which 
time he not only conquered Judah, but Egypt as well, and made himself 
master of the world. Under him the Assyrian Empire grew in wealth 
as no other nation, perhaps, has since done. Babylon, which was built 
upon the spot where the tower of Babel was erected, from whence sprung 
its name, was resplendent with every thing that human ingenuity could 
devise. 

Its hanging gardens and terraced slopes, as well as its magnificent 
palaces, great aqueducts and golden statuary, have perpetuated its fame 
and made the name imperishable in history. The time or manner of 
Nebuchadnezzar’s death is not recorded, but it is probable that he died 
about 560 B. C. 


474 


Belshazzar the King Made a Great Feast . 

Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son, Evil-merodach, who ruled 
Successors of eighteen years. The succession thereafter, as given by Smith, 


the kingdom. [ n Eis “ History of the Bible,” is as follows : 

B C. YEARS. 

559. Neriglissar, sister’s husband to Evil-merodach, a usurper; perhaps the same 
as Nergalsharezer, the Rab-mag ( Chief of the Magi f ) Jer. xxxix. 3, 13, 

(but according to Josephus, 40 years) 3/4 

556. Laborosoarchod, his son, killed by a conspiracy, and the family of Nebu- 
chadnezzar restored oY\ 

555. Nabonadius or Nabonedus (Nabu-nit ) , the Eabynetus II. of Herodotus, 
probably the son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, and the last king of 

Babylon 17 

539. (About.) Belshazzar ( Bil-shar-uzur ), son of Nabonadius, becomes his 

associate in the kingdom and governor of Babylon 2 

538. Babylon taken by Cyrus and governed by his grandfather (?) Astyages, 

Darius the Mede . 2 

536. Death of Darius — Cyrus reigns alone — Restoration of the Jews. 

529. Death of Cyrus, after a reign of nine years from the taking of Babylon ... 9 


The Book of Daniel, however, makes no mention of the rulers of 
Babylon between the death of Nebuchadnezzar and the accession of Bel- 
shazzar, but proceeds directly from the record of Nebuchadnezzar’s praise 
of God to a description of Belshazzar’s feast and the fall of Babylon. 
The reader will not fail to note the singular coincidence of names in that 
of Daniel, called Balthasar, and that of Belshazzar, which is only another 
name for Balthasar, both being derived from the Assyrian god Bel. In 
this we observe another striking evidence of the reasonable supposition 
already noted, that Daniel had been regarded by Nebuchadnezzar as a 
man scarcely inferior to God, and that he sought to raise him to a position 
almost equal with God. 

Little is written about Belshazzar’s reign beyond the fact that during 
his rulership Babylon was besieged by Cyrus, king of Persia, and 
Belshazzar’s Darius, king of Media, who had formed an alliance for the 

feast. destruction of the kingdom. During this great siege, 

memorable in history, a marvelous event occurred which brings Daniel 
again into prominent notice as a reader of God’s signs. The king made 



They Drank Wine , and Praised the Gods of Gold . 


475 


a great feast in his sumptuous palace, which was attended by all the lords 
and ladies of the mighty empire. There was a mad revelry of music, 
songs and riotous carnival, such as an abundance of wine could only 
cause, during which the king commanded that all the golden and silver 
vessels which Nebuchad 110 ' 7 ' 701 ' 
had captured out of the ' 
in Jerusalem be brough 
the service of himself, 
concubines and princes 
revelry now became 
greater, and in this 
hour of debauchery 
praises were sung to 
the gods of gold, silver, 
iron, brass, wood and 
stone. The delirium 
of drink and passion 
was suddenly arrested 
by the appearance of a 
hand which moved 
over against the wall 
behind the rich can- 
delabra, and in view 
of the assemblage 
wrote upon the plaster 
four ominous words, 

“ Mene, mene, tekel, 
upharsin.” When the 
king saw this strange 
thing he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his 
countenance became like that of a dead man. He called loudly for the 
astrologers, soothsayers and wise Chaldeans ; to any one of whom who 
would interpret the meaning of the sign he promised the appointment 
of third ruler in his kingdom. When all these wise men admitted 


HIS WINDOWS BEING OPEN IN HIS CHAMBER TOWARD JERUSALEM. — 
Dan. 6. io 


476 Let Daniel be Called , and he will Show thee the Interpretation. 



that they could not interpret the sign, Belshazzar became more gloomy 
than before and his depression was pitiable to see. The queen, seeing 
him in this condition, bade him take new courage, for though his favorite 
soothsayers could give him no information she assured him that there 
was one man in his kingdom upon whom the Spirit 
of God rested, for he had manifested his power in 
the frequent interpretations of dreams 
and the solving of hard questions. Such 
a man she declared was Daniel and advised 
the king to send for him. Eager to dis- 
cover what fate had been thus signified, 
Belshazzar sent for Daniel and upon his 
coming into the king’s presence he was 
offered many rich gifts of reward 
for an interpretation of the sign. 
These offers, however, Daniel re- 
jected, but he told the king that 
he would undertake to explain to 
him the handwriting on the 
wall, though he desired first to 
remind him of his wickedness 
in profaning the vessels captured 
from the Temple at Jerusalem, 
and of the punishment that had 
been- sent upon Nebuchadnezzar 
for the pride and self glory he 
had exhibited. These sins the 
king had also committed, and 
now God had declared the penalty 
which he must suffer. “ This,” 
said Daniel, “ is the interpretation of the thing : Mene , God hath numbered 
thy kingdom and finished it. Tekel, Thou art weighed in the balances 
and art found wanting. Peres (or Upharsin), Thy kingdom is divided 
and given to the Medes and Persians.” 


HE W A EKED IN THE PAEACE OF THE KINGDOM OF 
BABYEON . . . THERE FEEE A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. 
—Dan. 4. 29-31. 


477 


These Men Assembled and Found Daniel Praying. 

In accordance with his promise, the king clothed Daniel in a scarlet 
robe and put a chain of gold about his neck, and also made him the 
third ruler in his kingdom. A fulfillment of Daniel’s interpretation came 
speedily, for on the following night Darius and Cyrus entered the city 
by drawing off the Euphrates into an artificial channel and passing in 
by way of the dry bed. They put the inhabitants to the sword, and 
killed Belshazzar, by which act the last posterity of Nebuchadnezzar was 
destroyed. 

Daniel was not only spared from slaughter, but Darius carried him 
to Media, where on account of his wisdom the king appointed him chief 
of three presidents over the three hundred and sixty provinces into which 
his kingdom was divided. The great esteem and honor in which Darius 
held Daniel aroused intense jealousy among the princes and those who 
had been candidates for the king’s favors, and they sought every means 
to destroy him. They found him so upright in all things that it was 
impossible to bring any charge against him, but observing that he was 
given to prayers three times each day, they went to the king and per- 
suaded him to concur with the governors in a proclamation Thc proc | ama . 
allowing the people “ a relaxation for thirty days, that no tion against 
one might offer a petition or prayer, either to himself or to prayer, 
the gods, but that he who should transgress this decree shall be cast into 
a den of lions and there perish.” By this order we are given to under- 
stand that in the kingdom of Darius every one was free to practice any 
kind of religion, or to pray to any god he might choose to worship, so 
that there was perfect religious tolerance. But on feast and fast days, 
appointed usually by the governors of the provinces, and sometimes by the 
king when the observance was to be general, it was common to put some 
restrictions upon the people. In this instance every one was commanded 
to abstain from all prayers or worship for a period of thirty days. 

Darius had no suspicions of the conspiracy of Daniel’s enemies, and 
accordingly promulgated the order to enforce abstinence from prayers for 
the time specified. Since Daniel was devoted to God’s service he gave 
no heed to the order, but continued his prayers publicly as before, where- 
upon his enemies charged him before the king and demanded an enforcement 


478 He Labored Till the Going Down of the Sun to Deliver Him 



of the punishment threatened for disobedience. At this Darius was 
very sorry, for he loved Daniel above any other man in all his kingdom, 
Daniel cast into having found him steadfast in duty, honorable in all things, 
a den of lions. ail d one endowed with such wisdom and piety as could not 
be found elsewhere ; but the people were resolved upon his punishment, 
and the king could not find any satisfying pretext for remitting the 

penalty. He spoke kindly to Daniel, 
however, and begged him not to be 
cast down, since God would surely 
be with him and protect him. So 
Daniel was 
cast into a den 
wherein were 
kept many 
lions that were 
ill fed, so that 
they might 
the more 
surely and 
ravenously de- 
stroy such of- 
fenders as 
should be cast 
to them. The 
king placed 
his royal seal 
on the rock 
that closed the 
mouth of the 

den, and then went away and spent the night in weeping, taking neither 
food nor sleep, and in the morning, when it was yet scarcely day, with 
anxious heart he ran to the cave to discover if his good and beloved 
servant were alive. He found that the seal had not been broken, which 
increased his anxiety, but hastily rolling the stone away, he cried out 


THE MAN GABRIEL 


TOUCHED ME ABOUT THE TIME OF THE EVENING 
OBLATION. — Dan. 9. 21. 


His Dominion Shall be Even to the End. 


479 


aloud, “ Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom 
thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions !” To which 
the king heard this joyous and triumphant answer : “ My He is miracu- 
God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, |ous, y preserved, 
that they have not hurt me : forasmuch as before Him innocency was 
found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” 

At this Darius rejoiced in a full measure of gladness, and he helped 
Daniel out of the den and brought him to the palace. Having under- 
stood now the conspiracy that sought to destroy his favored officer and 
servant, he ordered that all those who had accused Daniel, together with 
their wives and children, be cast into the lions’ den, where they were set 
upon by the ravenous beasts and torn to pieces almost upon the instant. 

Although Daniel had been promoted by Darius to the highest office 
within his gift, and was regarded with the most affectionate Daniel’s prayer 
appreciation and devoted attachment by the king, yet he for the restora- 
longed for the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of t,on of J erusa,cm - 
Jerusalem and the Temple that had been dedicated by Solomon. He had 
not himself seen Judah in her pride, but he had read the prophecies of 
Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and knew that the seventy years of desolation were 
now nearly accomplished, so he betook himself to praying for the forgive- 
ness of his people, who had transgressed the laws of Moses, and to petition- 
ing God to restore Jerusalem and the sanctuary, wherein the people might 
renew their worship in their own land that was given them as an 
inheritance. 

Morning, noon and evening was Daniel wont to pray, nor did the 
deferred mercy of God, from day to day, in anywise diminish his faith 
or abate his fervor. At length, while engaged in his devotions one even- 
ing, the angel Gabriel flew down from the throne of mercy, and presented 
himself before Daniel, bearing the glad tidings that his prayers had been 
heard and would soon be answered. But the angel spoke to him also as 
a prophet, foretelling things which should occur many years after. He 
promised that after seventy weeks the period of Judah’s punishment would 
be completed and the people would be suffered to return to their desolate 
country and rebuild Jerusalem; that for seventy times that length of time, 


480 After Three Score and Ten Weeks Shall Messiah be Cut Off. 


or nearly one hundred years, Judah should be blessed with undisturbed 
prosperity, after which there would come wars and dissensions. These 
wars, however, the angel assured Daniel, would not result in disaster to 
Judah, for God had determined that the people should be spared and the 
nation finished by the birth and glorious ministrations of the Messiah. 
But to this pleasant prediction he added the sorrowful prophecy of Christ’s 
death and the second destruction of Jerusalem. After his interview 



with Gabriel, 
Daniel beheld 

another vision, in i • * Ml iPw* the person of 

the blessed Mes- * siah, whom he 

thus decribes: t^ese things shale be finished.— Dan. 12. 7 . “ And in the 

four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was beside the great 
river, which is Hiddekel (the Tigris); then I lifted up mine eyes and 
Daniel beholds looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose 
the Messiah in loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz : His body was like 
beryl, and His face as the appearance of lightning, and His eyes 
as lamps of fire, and His arms and His feet like in color to polished brass, 
and the voice of His words like the voice of a multitude, and I Daniel 


alone saw the vision ; for the men that were with me saw not the vision ; 
but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.” 


The King of the North Shall Come Against Him Like a Whirlwind. 481 



Daniel was at first overcome with fear, but the Lord spoke to him 
such words of encouragement that he was strengthened, and prepared to 
hear the prophecy that was to be given. Thereupon the Messiah told 
him that in the years to come a league would be made between four kings 
who would overthrow Persia and destroy Babylon ; that the country would 
also be invaded 
mans, who would 
over the people, 
but that Israel 
would be deliv- 
ered from their 
hands by Mich- 
ael, though it 
was not given 
to Daniel to 
know when 
these things 
should come to pass, his 
instructions being only to 
write them down and 
thus transmit the proph- 
ecy to his posterity. 

Concerning Daniel’s 
death we know nothing, 
for he is not mentioned 
in sacred history after the record of his 
vision of the Messiah. 

AS I WAS BY THE SIDE OF THE GREAT RIVER, 

The prophecies of Teremiah are • • • 1 wted up mine eyes, and looked. 

-V it j Dan. 10. 4, 5. 

more definite than are those of any 

other prophet, as is their fulfillment also. The captivity of Judah and 
destruction of Jerusalem came to pass exactly as he had foretold. It 
might have been possible for a shrewd observer of events, and especially 
for one who knew so thoroughly the weaknesses of the Jews and the 
strength and disposition of their neighbors, as did Jeremiah, to foreshadow 


31 


482 He Hath Charged Me to Build Him a House in Jerusalem. 

the downfall of Judah; but to this prophecy he added another, the fulfill- 
ment of which could best conclusively prove that he spoke as the oracle 
of God. Nearly one hundred years before the occurrence, he foretold that 
The Israelites Judah would be held in captivity for a period of seventy 
benefited by years, at the end of which time the Jews would be restored 
their captivity. ^ a \r[ n g named Cyrus, who would also assist them in 
the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of the Temple. The same prophecy 
was given by Isaiah nearly forty years earlier, though not so explicitly. 
How perfectly this prediction was verified we shall soon see. As already 
recorded in Daniel, Belshazzar, who held the Jews captive, was overthrown 
by Cyrus and Darius, both of whom appreciated the wisdom of their 
captives even more than did Nebuchadnezzar. Gradually their liberties, 
or privileges, were increased, until before their manumission the Jews 
held many of the most important positions in the Median and Persian 
governments. At all times their religion was in no wise interfered with, 
so that, being under restraint only as regards their disposition for con- 
quest and internal dissension, their morals became vastly improved and 
their worship and manner of living more in accordance with the laws of 
Moses. The result of this was that Cyrus and Darius were both led to 
embrace, in a measure at least, the worship of God, and to select Jews for 
their counselors. All this prepared the way for a fulfillment of Jere- 
miah’s prophecy. 

In the first year of the reign of Cyrus in Babylon (about B. C. 
536), that king issued a proclamation for the rebuilding of the Temple at 
Cyrus orders Jerusalem, apparently, from the language used, in compli- 
the rebuilding ance with the prayers and request of Daniel. In this 
of the Temple. p roc ] ama ti 0 n Cyrus acknowledges the God of Israel as the 
true God, and therefore invited the people of God throughout all his 
dominions to assist in the work by contributing money or other posses- 
sions. The Jews responded to this order with great enthusiasm, for, 
though they now had nearly all the liberty they desired and were pros- 
perous in the new land, still their thoughts recurred to Jerusalem and 
the Temple of Solomon, about which they read much and were constantly 
reminded in all their religious observances. The work of raising funds 


Strengthened their Hands with Vessels of Silver and Gold. 483 


and apportioning the labor was entrusted to those of the house of Ben- 
jamin and Judah, assisted by the Levites, as enumerated by Ezra. But 
Cyrus showed his zeal by restoring all the vessels which Nebuchadnezzar 
had carried away from the Temple and giving them into the care of a 
prince of Judah named Zernbbabel 
to be taken back to Jerusalem. Be- 
sides these gifts many other equally rich ones 
were contributed by neighboring countries 
then at peace with Cyrus, so that when all 
the donations were collected together, the 
whole represented nearly, if not quite, 
as much wealth as Solomon had at his 
command when he undertook the build- 
ing. The day of restoration was now 
at hand, and with the blessings of 
Cyrus the Hebrews 
started for the desolate 
wilderness of Judah to 
erect upon the ruins of 
their homes and cities 
a new empire and a & 

Temple to be dedi- r * fjjS* I cated to God. Ac- 
cording to the ac- / V : ‘ 1 count of Ezra 

there returned by ~ the first caravan 

forty-nine thousand | I ' 1 ^ing^made’ adS seven hundred and 

twenty-seven per- V cree.— E zra 6. 1. sons , who took 

with them six thousand seven hundred and twenty 

asses, seven hundred and thirty-six horses, four hundred and 

thirty-five camels, and two hundred and forty-five mules. Return of the 
This number did not include all the Jews that then lived in Jews from 
the land of their captivity, for many had become attached the,r ca P t,v,t y* 
to Persia by possessions which they had acquired there and were there- 
fore unable to return without sacrificing their property. Many went back 
to the rebuilt Jerusalem years after, while enough remained permanently 



484 They Sang Together by Course in Praising , and Giving Thanks . 



in the country to form what was called the “dispersion,” about which 
we shall read further when we come to the book of Esther. 

The fifty thousand — a few less — first visited several of their desolate 
cities, but in the seventh month they assembled at the ruins of Jerusa- 
lem, and after observing the Feast of Tabernacles set about rebuilding 
the Temple. They followed the plan of Solomon in nearly every par- 
ticular, though the work was carried on 
much more expeditiously than at the first 
building. In the second month the founda- 
tion was laid amid a solemn service and 
praise to Jehovah, the sons of Asaph repeating 
the chorus of David, “ Because He is good, for 
His mercy endureth forever.” The 
noise made by the shouters for 
joy was equaled by the 
lamentations of the old 
men who had 
beheld the first 
Temple and its 
destruc- 
tion. 

When 
the old ad- 
versaries 
of Judah 
heard 

EZRA . . . CASTING IIIMSEEF DOWN BEFORE THE HOUSE OF GOD. — Ezra 10. 1. what WaS 

being done at Jerusalem they sent up and asked permission to assist in 
the building of the Temple, for, said they, “ We seek your God as you 
The jews do, an d we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esar- 
reject the help haddon, king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” These 
of Samaritans. p e0 p-[ e were the Samaritans, who had supplanted the Jews, 
as already explained. Though they were a hospitable and generally a just 
people, they were given to idolatry and still entertained a prejudice against 


485 


Let Us Build with You ; for We Seek Your God. 



the Jews, which feeling was so heartily reciprocated that a Jew would perish 
of thirst before he would receive water from the hand of a Samaritan. 
On account of the prejudices, and perhaps also because they desired that 
the honor of rebuilding the Temple should remain theirs exclusively, 
the Jews refused the assistance of- 
fered and returned a pert reply. 

A rejection of their kind offices 
so incensed the Samaritans, or 
Cutheans, as they 
were also called, 
that they offered 
every impediment 
in their power to 
the work, while 
Cyrus was 
unable to af- 
ford any re- 
lief to the 
Jews be- 
cause of 
wars in 
which he 
was at the 
time en- 
gaged. At 
length, 
upon the 

HE MADE A PROCLAMATION THROUGHOUT ALL HIS KINGDOM. — Ezra 1. 1. 

death of Cy- 
rus, the Samaritans sent letters to his successor, Artaxerxes, in which 
they represented the Jews as a people given to quarreling and rebellion, 
and declared to him if he would search their history he would discover 
how many seditions they had made, and how unworthy they were to be 
trusted to complete a work that would result in encouraging them to 
rebel against Persia. 



Let the Gold and Silver Vessels 


he Brought. 


Artaxerxes was influenced by these specious representations to order 
a suspension of work on the Temple, and for the next few months 
nothing was done toward the building of either Jerusalem or the Temple. 
Artaxerxes’ rule, however, lasted only seven months, when he was 
dethroned — having been a usurper — by Darius II., son of Hydaspes, 
who came to the throne of Persia about B. C. 520. His sanction and 
assistance in the resumption of \ the work was procured 

by Zerubbabel, who, 


having been invited to a feast with the king, manifested such wisdom 
in making a reply to the question, “ Which is greatest, wine, kings, 
women or truth ? ” that Darius promised to grant him any wish which 
he might make. Thereupon Zerubbabel desired him to aid in the 
building of the Temple, which desire the king not only granted, but 
also threatened any who should thereafter interfere with the work with 
the severest punishment. 


AND HE DELIVERED US FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY. — Ezra 8. 31. 


They Prospered Through the Prophesying of Haggai. 487 

The work was now resumed under the encouragement of the prophets 
Haggai and Zechariah, and was finished in the sixth year of Darius’ 
reign (B. C. 515), twenty-one years after the return of the Jews from 
Babylon. A feast of solemn dedication now followed, at which there were 
sacrificed one hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, 
“ and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the 
number of the tribes of Israel.” 

The dedication of the Temple was an occasion of great rejoicing, but 
the people were not yet free from the harassments of their neighbors, 
nor did they obey the laws of Moses, as the manner Ezra gocs to 
of their deliverance should have prompted them to do. Jerusalem. 
Among the special sins charged against them at this time was their 
taking wives from among strange nations, which offence was particularly 
forbidden by Moses. Learning of their transgressions, Ezra, who was a 
priest and teacher in Babylon, asked permission of Artaxerxes II., or 
rather of Xerxes, so well known in Grecian history, and who was king 
of Persia at the time, to go to Jerusalem, announcing his purpose to be 
to teach the Jews there their duty to God, and wherein they were dis- 
obeying the laws of Moses. Xerxes not only granted Ezra’s request, but 
loaded him with many presents of gold and silver to be taken with him 
to Jerusalem as offerings to God. These presents included money with 
which to buy bullocks, rams and goats for the sacrifices, and also precious 
vessels for use in the Temple, for Xerxes had now begun to fear God, 
and was glad to show his sympathy for restored and reunited Israel. 

As already stated, at the time of the return of the first caravan of 
fifty thousand Jews to Jerusalem, there were many who could not leave 
Babylon on account of their landed possessions, but now Xerxes provided 
a way for those who desired to return with Ezra; by granting them suffi- 
cient treasure to compensate them for their Persian possessions, so that 
a large number of these Jews went with Ezra to Judah to assist him in 
upholding the laws of Moses. Their journey to Jerusalem occupied four 
months, but though their way was through a desert beset by robbers and 
dangerous enemies, they accomplished the trip in safety and delivered all 
the treasure brought with them into the charge of the priests and Levites 



THE DEDICATION OF THE WADE OF JERUSALEM. — 
Neh. 12. 27. 


488 Kept the Dedication of this House of God with Joy . 

of the Temple. The success of their journey prompted them to offer up 
sacrifices to God of twelve bullocks, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs 
and twelve goats, after which all that Xerxes had commanded the people 
to do in honoring God was given to the governors, by letters which the 
king had entrusted to Ezra to deliver. Having thus prepared the way 
for his real mission and established himself in the con- 
fidence of the people, Ezra ordered all Judah to as- 

semble together at 


Jerusalem, which command being obeyed, he told them of their dis- 
obedience, and especially rebuked them for having married with women 
Divorce of wives w ^° belonged to the neighboring heathen nations. Shecha- 

taken from niah, one of the chief men in Israel, was the first to 

heathen nations. ac ^ n0 wledge the sins which Ezra had charged against 

his people, and asking forgiveness for their transgressions, proposed 
that all those who had so married should renounce their heathen wives 
and also the offspring of such marriages. This proposition found favor 


Have Taken Strange JVives of the People of the Land. 489 

with all the people, including the priests and Levites as well, and 
a time was accordingly appointed for the rulers to hear complaints and 
to dissolve these objectionable marriage bonds. From this we infer that 
where divorces were thus made it was according to some rule of justice 
by which the wives were awarded a portion of the property of their 
husbands, for we are told that it took three months for Ezra and the 
elders to instruct the people what they should do in putting away their 
wives. 



Ar.t, THE EEDERS OF ISRAEE CAME. AND THE PRIESTS TOOK THE ARK. — i Kings. 8. 3. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


For she had neither father nor mother , aiid the maid was fair and beautiful. 

IE story of Esther, and how she saved her people from 
massacre by her beauty and strategy, is laid in the 
reign of Ahasuerus, called also Cyrus, B. C. 510. The 
Biblical account of the circumstances, though formerly 
discredited by many learned Hebrew scholars, is now 
universally accepted as an historical fact, since the 
proofs adduced by Dean Prideaux and Dr. Lee were 
put in print, who place the event in the reign of 

Artaxerxes Longimanus, who was the son of Ahasuerus. 
The account as recorded by Josephus is somewhat fuller 
than that contained in the Bible, and also reveals some 
motives which the Bible does not allude to. Dr. William Smith, one of 
the most profound of Bible scholars, gives the date of the incident at about 
480 B. C., under the reign of Xerxes, which is the Greek name for 

Ahasuerus, and cites several excellent reasons in support of his claim, 
on which account we have chosen to allow the book of Esther to follow 
that of Ezra, instead of preceding it, as we would have done had we 
accepted the Biblical chronology. 

In the third year of the reign of Ahasuerus, whose kingdom extended 
to Egypt and comprised one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, the 
The feast in king gave a grand feast in the banquet hall of his sumptu- 
the palace ous palace, in the city of Shusan, to which he invited all 

of Shusan. ^hc p r j nces and governors of Persia, which lasted for one 

hundred and eighty days. At the conclusion of this feast he gave 
another in honor of neighboring nations, which was attended by the 
ambassadors thereof, as well also as many of the leading men of his 
own kingdom. The second feast lasted seven days, and was given in a 

(490) 



Queen Vashti Refused to Come at the King's Commandment . 491 


tent composed of rich linens supported by gold and silver pillars, so 
ample that “many ten thousands” might sit beneath it, while the cup 
service was of gold inlaid with precious stones. Wine was served in 
abundance in a laver into which the guests might dip their cups at 



pleasure, it being deemed offensive to have the servants offer the wine 
cups continually, as was the prac- 
tice among the Persians. 

At the same time of Ahas- 
uerus’ second feast his beautiful 
wife, Vashti, the queen, also gave 
a banquet in the palace to a large 
number of her distinguished 
guests, no doubt 
the wives of those 
ambassadors 


AND MKMUCAN ANSWERED BEFORE THE KING AND THE 
PRINCES, VASHTI THE QUEEN HATH NOT DONE WRONG 
TO THE KING ONEY. — Esther i. 16. 


whom the king was so royally entertaining. In the pride of his heart 
and the excitement produced by the large quantities, of wine he had 
drunk, Ahasuerus described the charms of his wife to his guests, and 
at length sent messengers to bring her to him that he might show her 
beauty to those who were feasting with him, but on account of a practice 
among the Persians which forbids wives to be seen by strangers, she 


49 2 


What Shall We do unto Queen Vashti According to the Law? 



refused to answer his summons. Several times he sent his eunuchs to 
her, exhorting and again commanding her to show herself to his com- 
pany, but she as steadfastly refused. However potent her reasons for 
refusing to show herself before the king’s guests, they failed to satisfy 

him, and he became so 
irritated at her action 
that he asked of his 


VASHTI, THE QUEEN, MADE A FEAST FOR THE 
WOMEN IN THE ROYAE HOUSE. — Esther i. 9. 

counselors how he could lawfully 
punish her. To this inquiry a man 
named Memucan responded by saying 
that the queen’s disobedience was not only an affront to the king, but to 
all Persians as well, since it was an example to all wives to have regard 
for their husband’s commands only when it appeared to them proper or 
their inclination prompted. The other advisers agreed with Memucan, 



493 


Let there be Fair Young Virgins Sought for the King. 



and urged the king to punish her arrogance by divorcing her and selecting 
another queen in her stead. Though Ahasuerus did not deem so severe 
a measure in any wise unjust, yet he entertained such a great love for 
Vashti that it was a long time before he could be persuaded to act upon 
the advice of his counselors. When, finally, the king had determined to 
dethrone Vashti, he sent messengers to select 
and bring to him a large number of the 
most beautiful virgins that could be found 
in his dominions. Among 
the number who were thus 
chosen for the king to select 
a new queen from was an 
orphan Jewish girl named 
Esther, scarcely yet grown 
to womanhood, whose 
beauty surpassed 
even that which 
Vashti had possessed. 

Since the death of her 
parents she had been 
carefully brought up 
by her uncle, Mor- 
decai, who belonged 
to - the tribe of 
Benjamin, and was 
a principal man 
among the Jews in 

. , TT - EET THERE BE FAIR YOUNG VIRGINS SOUGHT FOR THE KING.— Esther 2. 2. 

Persia. When her 

beauty had marked her out as the one who would most likely please the 
king best, she was committed to the temporary care of eunuchs, who 
provided her with rich raiments and costly perfumes. The great beauty 
There had been selected four hundred virgins, all of whom of Esthcr - 
underwent a purification of six months, at the end of which time they 
were brought before the king, one at a time, until all were examined. 


494 The Maiden Pleased Him , and She Obtained Kindness of Him. 



But scarcely had Ahasuerus’ eyes fallen on Esther than he fell in 
love with her, and immediately proposed to make her his lawful wife ; 
nor did he find a momentary peace until she had become his queen. 
The marriage was celebrated by public feasting and merry-making 
throughout all Persia and Media for an entire month, and he sent a 

request to the other na- 
HUfe* tions tli at they also 
should make some observ- 
ance of this glad occasion. 
On the day after his mar- 
riage he set a diadem 
upon Esther’s 
head and made 
her an equal 
ruler with 
him; but so 
engrossed 
was he with 
his love that 
he never 
thought to 
inquire what 
was her na- 
tionality, 
not the least 
suspecting 
that she was 
a Jewess. At 

the time of his wedding Ahasuerus had his palace at Shushan, and 
thither did Mordecai move from Babylon in order to be near his royal 
niece, for he loved her as though she had been his own daughter, and 
desired therefore to be constantly near, to comfort her with his advice. 

Some time after Mordecai’s removal to Shushan he discovered, through 
a servant named Barnabazus, a plot that two eunuchs had made to murder 


BUT MORDECAI BOWED NOT, NOR DID HIM REVERENCE. — Esther 3. 2. 


AND THE KING HEED OUT TO ESTHER THE GOEDEN SCEPTRE. — Esthers 








496 Hainan Sought to Destroy all the Jews. 

the king, and forthwith acquainted Ahasuerus, through Esther, with his 
peril, and also told him the names of the two conspirators. The king was 
a plot to murder greatly troubled by Mordecai’s revelation, but he promptly 
the king. ordered the two who had plotted against his life to be 

hanged, and without rewarding his informant, merely instructed the 
scribes to enter his name and deed upon the records, and bade Mordecai 
to remain in the palace as an intimate friend. 

At this time there was an Amalekite named Haman, whom Ahas- 
uerus so highly esteemed that he ordered all the people to pay him the 
Haman’s per- most obsequious honors, as though he were a king himself, 
fidious counsel. Haman lived also at the palace, and found his delight in 
having men bow down before him in attitude of reverence. All the 
people accorded him this honor except Mordecai, who, harboring an 
enmity against all Amalekites on account of their idolatry and the wars 
which the Israelites had with them in the establishing of Judaism, 
refused to pay him any regard whatever, on account of which Haman 
became furiously angry and resolved upon a terrible revenge, not only on 
Mordecai alone, but upon all the Jews that were then in Persia ; for he 
harbored a malice against the nation because the Amalekites had been 
almost annihilated by the Jews, as described in previous chapters. 
Accordingly, he came to the king and accused them, saying : “ There is 
a certain wicked nation, and it is dispersed over all the habitable earth 
that was under his dominion ; a nation separate from others, unsociable, 
neither admitting the same sort of divine worship that others do, nor 
using laws like to the laws of others ; at enmity with thy people, and 
with all men, both in their manners and practices. Now, if thou wilt 
be a benefactor to thy subjects, thou wilt give orders to destroy them 
utterly, and not leave the least remains of them, nor preserve any of 
them, either for slaves or for captives.” But that the king might not 
be embarrassed by the loss of the tributes which the Jews paid him, 
Haman promised to give him out of his own estate forty thousand 
talents whensoever he pleased; and he said he would pay this money 
very willingly that the kingdom might be freed from such a misfortune. 
I quote from Josephus the following: 


497 


Let it be Written that They May be Destroyed. 



Recommended 
that the Jews 
be massacred. 


“When Haman had made this petition, the king both forgave him the money and 
granted him the men, to do what he would with them. So Haman, having gained 
what he desired, sent out immediately a decree, as from the king, to all 
nations, the contents whereof were these : — ‘ Ahasuerus, the great king, 
to the rulers of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to 
Ethiopia, sends this writing : Whereas I have governed many nations, 
and obtained the dominion of all the habitable earth, according to my desire, and have 

not been obliged to do any thing that is insolent or cruel to my subjects by such my 

power, but have shown myself mild and gentle, by taking care of their 

peace and good order, and have sought 

how they might 
all time to come ; 

✓ 


kindly informed 
by Haman, who, 
on account of 
his prudence 
first in my es- 
nity, and only 
for his fidelity 
will to me, that 
tured nation in- 


IF IT PI.EASF THE KING, EET IT BE WRITTEN THAT 
THEY MAY BE DESTROYED. — Esther 3. 9. 


and justice, is the 
teem, and in dig- 
second to myself, 
and constant good- 
there is an ill-na- 
termixed with all 


mankind, that is averse to our laws, and not subject to kings, and of a different conduct of 
life from others, that hateth monarchy, and of a disposition that is pernicious to our 
affairs ; I give order that these men, of whom Haman, our second father, hath informed 
us, be destroyed, with their wives and children, and that none of them be spared, and 
that none prefer pity to them before obedience to this decree ; and this I will to be exe- 
cuted on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month of this present year, that so when all 
that have enmity to us are destroyed, and this in one day, we may be allowed to lead the 


32 


498 The King and Haman Came to Banquet with Esther. 

rest of our lives in peace thereafter.’ Now when this decree was brought to the cities, 
and to the country, all were ready for the destruction and entire abolishment of the Jews, 
against the day before mentioned ; and they were very hasty about it at Shushan in par- 
ticular. Accordingly, the king and Haman spent their time in feasting together with 
good cheer and wine ; but the city was in disorder. 

“ Now, when Mordecai was informed of what was done, he rent his clothes, and put 
on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes upon his head, and went about the city crying out that 

‘ a nation which had been injurious to no man, was to be destroyed.’ 

Esther takes , . , , . , , 

And he went on saying thus as far as to the king s palace, and there he 

means to save J 0 

her people, stood, for it was not lawful for him to go into it in that habit. The same 
thing was done by all the Jews that were in the several cities wherein this 
decree was published, with lamentation and mourning, on account of the calamities 
denounced against them. But as soon ascertain persons had told the queen that Mordecai 
stood before the court in a mourning habit, she was disturbed at this report, and sent out 
such as should change his garments ; but when he could not be induced to put off his 
sackcloth, because the sad occasion that forced him to put it on was not yet ceased, she 
called the eunuch Acratheus, for he was then present, and sent him to Mordecai, in order 
to know of him what sad accident had befallen him, for which he was in mourning, and 
would not put off the habit he had put on, at her desire. Then did Mordecai inform the 
eunuch of the occasion of his mourning, and of the decree which was sent by the king 
into all the country, and of the promise of money whereby Haman bought the destruction 
of their nation. He also gave him a copy of what was proclaimed at Shushan, to be 
carried to Esther : and he charged her to petition the king about this matter, and not to 
think it a dishonorable thing in her to put on an humble habit for the safety of her nation, 
wherein she might deprecate the ruin of the Jews, who were in danger of it ; for that 
Haman, whose dignity was only inferior to that of the king, had accused the Jews, and 
had irritated the king against them. When she was informed of this, she sent to Mordecai 
again, and told him that she was not called by the king, and that he who goes into him with- 
out being called, is to be slain, unless when he is willing to save any one, he holds out his 
golden sceptre to him ; but that to whomsoever he does so, although he go in without 
being called, that person is so far from being slain, that he obtains pardon, and is entirely 
preserved. Now when the eunuch carried this message from Esther to Mordecai, he bade 
him also tell her that she must not only provide for her own safety, but for the com- 
mon preservation of her nation, for if she now neglected this opportunity, there would 
certainly arise help to them from God some other way ; but she and her house would be 
destroyed by those whom she now despised. Hearing this, and following her own 
inclination as well, she sent back word by the same messenger, instructing him to call all 
the Jews in Shushan together and enjoin them to hold a fast, and that she and her 
maidens would observe the same, and promised that during the fast she would go before the 


Esther Drew Near and Touched the Top of the Sceptre. 499 

king, even though it was against the law, and petition him to revoke Haman’s cruel 
order. ’ ’ 



The law to which Esther refers was one peculiar to Ahasuerus’ reign, 
or at least there is no mention of its existence either before or after him. 
The king was surrounded with 
a bodyguard, armed with axes, 
who had orders to 
chop down any one 
who should dare 
to approach to the 
royal presence or 
venture to make 
a request with- 
out first receiv- 
ing the king’s 
sanction. The 
privilege of 
addressing the 
throne was in- 
dicated by the 
king extend- 
ing his golden 
sceptre toward 
the person who 
might win his 
favor by ap- 
pearances, but 
to attempt an 

audience was like tempting death, 

for the king’s moods were variable 

and his mercy equally so. Mordecai obeyed the instructions Esther appears 
of Esther, and having assembled the Jews in a congrega- bcforc thc kin e- 
tion, fasted for three days, and offered up earnest entreaties to God to deliver 
the Israelites from the calamity which was threatened. Esther also prayed 


THEN THE KING MADE A 
GREAT FEAST. — Esther 2. 18. 



5 °° 


What is Thy Request ? It Shall be Performed. 


with equal fervor, after the custom of the Persians, by clothing herself in 
mourning garments and casting herself upon the ground, and besought God 
to make her more beautiful in the eyes of the king that her words might 
be more persuasive in averting his anger. After thus praying for three 
days she put off her mourning clothes and dressed herself in the rich 
raiment she wore as a queen, and j\ taking two of her maidens to 


THINK NOT WITH THYSELF THAT THOU SHALT ESCAPE !— Esther 4. 13. 

support her, she went to the king more radiantly beautiful than she had ever 
appeared before. Possibly expecting to receive some pleasant salutation, 
she was therefore the more surprised and affrighted when she saw his 
countenance lighted up with anger, as if he were disposed to order his 
guard to kill her in his presence. The poor queen, anxious for her own 


We are Sold , I and My People , to be Destroyed. 501 

life, and equally concerned for the lives of her people, was so overcome 
with fear that her knees trembled until she fell sideways to the floor in 
a swoon as one dead. At this the king was terrified, and leaping from 
his throne he laid aside his royalty for the manhood that nature had 
aroused, and taking her in his arms called back with words of passionate 
endearment the life that had been almost destroyed by the spectre of fear. 
Holding her still in his embrace he bade her to dismiss her alarm, for 
the law which denied subjects the right to come into his presence 
unbidden did not apply to the queen, whose power was equal to his own. 
He then put the sceptre into her hand as a sign of her equality in the 
rulership, and declared that whatever request she made should be granted, 
even to the half of his kingdom. 

When Esther had somewhat regained her composure she smiled 
sweetly upon the king and said that the only request she now had to 
make was that he and Haman should come and sup with her presently. 
When the king and Haman had come to feast with her and were drink- 
ing in her honor, Ahasuerus, who was anxious to 
discover what request the queen would make of him, 
besought her to withhold nothing from him and to 
ask freely what she desired. But Esther replied that 
she was not yet ready to make her desire known, but 
she promised 
Haman 
her, she 
tition. This 
second invita 
tion elated Ha 
man so 
that he 
home an 
among thos 
whom he 
he vaunted 
himself by 



WHAT WILT THOU, QUEEN ESTHER ?— Esther 5. 3. 


502 Behold also the Gallows , Fifty Cubits High. 

declaring that he alone, besides the king, was honored by a request to 
eat with the queen, who thus had manifested her great esteem for him. 
Haman elated Though delighted with this honor and preference, Haman was 
with promise uneasy, being consumed with jealousy against Mordecai, 
of his success. w ] 10m h e saw enjoying the liberties of the king’s court, 

while the “ proud Jew,” as he called him, refused to pay him any respect. 
He spoke to his wife, Zeresh, of how obnoxious Mordecai was to him, 
whereupon she advised him, according to Josephus: 

“ To give order that a gallows should be made fifty cubits high, and that in the morn- 
ing he should ask it of the king that Mordecai might be hanged thereon. So he com- 
mended her advice, and gave order to his servants to prepare the gallows, 

Preparations to 

hang Mordecai an( ^ to P* ace h the court, for the punishment of Mordecai thereon, 
which was accordingly prepared. But God laughed to scorn the wicked 
expectations of Haman; and as He knew what the event would be, He was delighted at 
it, for that night He took away the king’s sleep : and as the king was not willing to lose 
the time of his lying awake, but to spend it in something that might be of advantage to 
his kingdom, he commanded the scribe to bring him the chronicles of the former kings, 
and the records of his ow T n actions; and when he had brought them, and was reading 
them, one was found to have received a country on account of his excellent management 
on a certain occasion, and the name of the country was set down; another was found to 
have had a present made him on account of his fidelity; then the scribe came to Bigthan 
and Teresh, the eunuchs that had made a conspiracy against the king, which Mordecai 
had discovered; and when the scribe said no more than that, and was going on to another 
history, the king .stopped him, and inquired, ‘ whether it was not added that Mordecai 
had a reward given him?’ and when he said there was no such addition, he bade him 
leave off ; and he inquired of those that were appointed for that purpose, what hour of the 
night it was; and when he was informed that it was already day, he gave the order that, 
if they found any one of his friends already come, and standing before the court, they 
should tell him. Now, it happened that Haman was found there, for he was come 
sooner than ordinary to petition the king to have Mordecai put to death; and when the 
servants said that Haman was before the court, he bade them call him in; and when he 
was come in, he said: ‘ Because I know that thou art my only fast friend, I desire thee to 
give me advice how I may honor one that I greatly love, and that after a manner suitable 
to my magnificence.’ Now Haman reasoned with himself, that what opinion he should 
give it would be for himself, since it was he alone who was beloved by the king; so he 
gave that advice which he thought of all others tne best; for he said: ‘ If thou wouldst truly 
honor a man whom thou sayest thou dost love, give order that he may ride on horse-back, 



Mordecai Went Out from the Presence of the King. 


with the same garment that thou wearest, and with a gold chain about his neck, and 
let one of thy intimate friends go before him, and proclaim through the whole city, that 
whomsoever the king honoreth obtaineth this mark of his honor.' This was the advice 
that Haman gave, out of a supposal that such reward would come to himself. Hereupon 
the king was 
pleased with the 
advice , and 
said : ‘Go, thou, 
therefore, for 
thou hast the 
horse, the gar- 
ment, and the 
chain, ask for 
Mordecai, the 
Jew, and give 
him those 
things, and go 
before his horse 
and proclaim ac- 
cordingly ; for 
thou art, ’ said 
he, ‘ my intim- 
ate friend, and 
hast given me 
good advice; be 
thou then the 
minister of what 
thou hast ad- 
vised me to. 

This shall be his 
reward from us 
for preserving 

1 ° a. xi xv xv in vj o oc,j\v Ai'i u * novvi^u, 

my life. ’ When AND reverenced haman — E sther 3 . 2 . 
he heard this order, which was entirely unexpected, he 
was confounded in his mind, and knew not what to do. 

However, he went out and led the horse, and took the purple garment, and the golden chain 
for the neck, and finding Mordecai before the court, clothed in sackcloth, he bade him put the 
garment off, and put the purple garment on; but Mordecai, not knowing the truth of the 
matter, but thinking that it was done in mockery, said: ‘ O thou wretch, the vilest of all 


504 


The Decree was Given at Shushan , the Palace. 


HE GAVE HIM THE COPY OF THE WRITING OF THE DECRFiE.— Esther 


8 . 



mankind, doest thou thus laugh at our calamities ?’ But when he was satisfied that the king 
bestowed this honor upon him, for the deliverance he had procured him when he convicted 
the eunuchs who had conspired against him, he put on the purple garment which the 
king always wore, put the chain about his neck, and got on horseback, and went round 
the city, while Haman went before, and proclaimed : ‘ This shall be the reward which the 
king will bestow on every one whom he loves, and esteems worthy of honor. ’ And when 
they had gone round the city, Mordecai went into the king; but Haman went home, out 
of shame, and informed his wife and friends of what had happened, and this with tears : 

who said, that he never would be able to be revenged of 
Mordecai, for that God was with him. 


“ Now while these men were thus talking one to another, Esther’s eunuchs hastened 
Haman away to come to supper, but one of the eunuchs, named Sabuchadas, saw the 
gallows that was fixed in Haman ’s house, and inquired of one of his 
servants for what purpose they had prepared it. So he knew that it was 
Haman’s house ^ or 4 ueen ’ s uncle, because Haman was about to petition the king that 
he might be punished ; but at present he held his peace. Now when the 
king, with Haman, was at the banquet, he desired the queen to tell him what gifts she 
desired to obtain, and assured her that she should have whatsoever she had a mind to. 


A gallows 
set up in 


505 


Haman Stood Up to Make Request for His Life. 


She then lamented the danger her people were in; and said, that ‘ she and her nation were 
given up to be destroyed, and that she, on that account, made this her petition : that she 
would not have troubled him if he had only given order that they should be sold into 
bitter servitude, for such a misfortune would not have been intolerable; but she desired 
that they might be delivered from destruction.’ ” 



When the king had heard Esther’s complaint he inquired of her 
who was the author of this conspiracy against the Jews, for though he 
had given Haman authority to issue a proclamation to 
destroy them, he now saw that he was 
about to be made the instrument of 
some wicked design, which 

he became anx- IP . - 

ions to discover. ' - 

To this inquiry . -tmTSEeMT* 1 ' ' ■ * 

Esther replied 
by exposing to 
him all the 
iniquities of 


MORDECAI RENT HIS CLOTHES . . . AND WENT INTO THE MIDST OF THE CITY.—Esther 4. 1. 

♦ 

Haman in the presence of Haman himself. Without giving any intima- 
tion, at the time, of his disposition the king went out into the garden 
to meditate upon what he should do. The moment that Ahasuerus 
left the room Haman fell down before the queen and implored her 
mercy for the iniquity he had designed, and remained beseeching her 
pardon and influence until the king returned, when, seeing the supplicant 
bowed upon his wife’s bed, and the queen full of anger, he determined to 
visit upon Haman a punishment equal to his great crime. At this 


5°6 


Esther Set Mordecai Over the House of Hetman. 



moment one of the servants came to call Hainan to supper, and to notify 
him that the gallows prepared for Mordecai was now ready. This infor- 
mation decided the king in his intention to punish Haman, for he 
immediately ordered that the offender be hanged upon the gallows, and 
that his estate be confiscated and given to Esther, who directly after 

granted it to Mordecai, whom she 
now acknowledged to the king was 
her uncle. 

By this action of the king 
the wicked Haman was justly 
punished and Mordecai saved, but 
the proclamation which gave the 
right to the people to 
slay the Jews at the 
time appointed and 
confiscate their estates 
was still 
prospect- 
ively in 
force, and 
the day 
was fast 
approach- 
i n g for 
its f u 1 - 
fillment. 
Esther 

wherefore they cael these days purim.— E sther^ 26. therefore 

prayed and besought the king to spare the Jews from slaughter, declar- 
ing that if her countrymen were destroyed she could not bear to live 
any longer. 

The king was greatly troubled by Esther’s entreaties, because while 
he was anxious to save the Jews, he knew not how to contrive a means 
for recalling the proclamation of Haman, since it was a principle among 


Write Ye also for the Jews , as it Liketh You , in the King's Name. 507 



the Persians and Medes that the decrees issued by those in authority, 
in either government, were irrevocable even by the king himself. After 
much reflection, and a meeting with his counselors for their advice, 
Ahasuerus at length, probably with the help of God, discovered a way of 
nullifying the proclamation. To 
carry into effect his plan for 
saving the Jews he called his 
scribes and had them hastily write 
a new proclamation at the dicta- 
tion of Esther, but which he signed 
with his own seal. 

This new decree 
recounted the con- 
spiracy of Haman 
and the crimes 
for which he 
had been hang- 
ed, and called 
upon the people 
to treat the Jews 
with that kindly 
consideration 
which their 
merits deserved ; 
at the same time 
the proclamation 
of Haman was 
permitted to 
stand, the king 

denying himself the right to revoke it, but to render it less effectual he 
gave the Jews permission to arm themselves and to fight any who might 
attempt to molest them ; more than this, he encouraged them in every 
way to repel their enemies and declared that God would be with them 
in their battles. This order was sent by messengers to every town 


AND HAMAN WAS FAEEEN UPON THE BED WHEREON ESTHER WAS.— Esther 7. 8. 


508 The City of Shushan Rejoiced and was Glad. 

within the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in Persia, so that 
the Jews were given timely notice and held themselves in readiness for 
the day appointed for their destruction. 

As a sign of the king’s favor to all the Jews, Mordecai was clothed 
in royal raiment and a crown of gold was placed upon his head, in 
which array he rode at the head of a public procession to 

Mordecai’s J r 

triumphal ride, reassure his people. At this sight many of the Persians 
became stricken with fear that the Jews would turn on them 
to revenge themselves for the proclamation of Haman, nor were their 
fears without good reason, for when the fatal thirteenth day arrived the 
Jews slew five hundred Amalekites in Shushan, and on the following 
day, with the king’s permission by Esther’s request, they hanged the ten 
sons of Haman and killed three hundred more of their enemies. The 
same vengeance was manifested by the Jews in all the provinces, where 
altogether no less than seventy-five thousand Amalekites were slain. 
This action of the Jews was a fulfillment of Balaam’s prophecy, as given 
in Numbers xxiv. 20 : “ Amalek was the first of the nations, but his 
latter end shall be, that he perish forever.” 

After the destruction of the Amalekites, Mordecai wrote to all the 
Jews in the kingdom of Persia, ordering them to observe the victory, and 
their deliverance by a public feast, and also exhorted them to make a 
similar observance on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the twelfth 
month of each year thereafter, which observance was to be called the Feast 
of Purim. Mordecai lived many years after this event and became the 
most illustrious Jew in Persia, and did more than any other man of his 
nation in consolidating the power of his people. 

It is a singular fact that the name of God does not once appear in 
the book of Esther, on which account, as before mentioned, many learned 
Biblical scholars have doubted its authenticity, though others equally well 
versed in Hebrew history accept it as canonical. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Send me unto Judah , unto the city of my father's sepulchres , that 1 may build it. 

URING the time of Mordecai’s triumph and of the 
events just described, affairs in Jerusalem had come 
to a sad condition. The Temple was completed 
and in it the Jews made their sacrifices, but 
they had not kept the commands of Moses, so 
that their measure of prosperity was small. We 
have already explained how Ezra was sent to 
rebuke them, and how successful had been his 
mission ; but even Ezra did not encourage the 
people in anything save their religious duty, apparently being uncon- 
cerned as to their commercial growth, or the dangers to which they 
were subject from the hostile neighbors. Matters had, indeed, become 
worse for the Jews than at any time since their captivity. The walls of 
the city had not been repaired, and the citizens were exposed to attacks, 
and they seemed to have lost heart generally. Says Josephus: 

‘ ‘ Now there was one of those Jews who had been carried captive, who was cup-bearer 
to King Xerxes; his name was Nehemiah, who belonged to the tribe of Judah. As this 
man was walking before Susa, the metropolis of the Persians, he heard 
some strangers, that were entering the city, after a long journey, speaking 
of pne another in the Hebrew tongue; so he went to them and asked 
from whence they came; and when their answer was, that they came 
from Judea, he began to inquire of them again in what state the 
multitude was, and in what condition Jerusalem was; and when they replied that they 
were in a bad state, for that their walls were thrown down to the ground, and that the 
neighboring nations did a great deal of mischief to the Jews, while in the day-time they 
overran the country, and pillaged it, and in the night did them mischief, insomuch that 
not a few were led away captive out of the country, and out of Jerusalem itself, and that 
the roads were in the day-time found full of dead men. Hereupon Nehemiah shed tears, 

(509) 


Nehemiah’s 
lament at the 
condition of 
Jerusalem. 


Why is Thy Countenance Sad, Seeing Thou art Not Sick? 


5 xo 


out of commiseration for the calamities of his countrymen; and looking up to heaven he 
said: ‘ How long, O Lord, wilt thou overlook our nation, while it suffers so great 
miseries, and while we are made the -prey and the spoil of all men ? ’ And while he 
stayed at the gate, and lamented thus, one told him that the king was going to sit 
down to supper; so he made haste and went as he was, without washing himself, to 
minister to the king in his office of cup-bearer; but as the king was very pleasant after 
supper, and more cheerful than usual, he cast his eyes on Nehemiah, and 
The king gives see j n g hi m \ OQ ]^ sa( p j ie as ^ e( ^ hi m w hy he was sad. Whereupon he 

cheerful answer P ra y e d to God to give him favor, and afford him the power of persuading 
by his words; and said, ‘ How can I, O king, appear otherwise than this, 
and not be in trouble, while I hear that the walls of Jerusalem, the city where are the 
sepulchres of my fathers, are thrown down to the ground, and that its gates are consumed 

by fire ? But do thou grant me the favor to go and build 
its walls, and to finish the building of the Temple. ’ Accord- 
ingly, the king gave him a signal, that he freely granted 
him what he asked; and told him that he should carry an 
epistle to the governors, that they might pay him due 
honor, and afford him whatsoever assistance he wanted, 
and as he pleased. ‘ Leave off thy sorrow then,’ said the 
king, ‘ and be cheerful in the performance of thy office 
hereafter.’ So Nehemiah worshiped God and gave the 
king thanks for his promise, and cleared up his sad and 
cloudy countenance, by the pleasure he had from the king’s 
promises. Accordingly, the king called for him the next 
day, and gave him an epistle to be carried to Adeus, the 
governor of Syria, and Phoenicia, and Samaria; wherein he 
sent to him to pay due honor to Nehemiah, and to supply 
him with what he wanted for his building. 

“ Now, when he was come to Babylon, and had taken 
with him many of his countrymen, who voluntarily followed him, he came to Jerusalem in 
the twenty and fifth year of the reign of Xerxes; and when he had shown the epistles to 
God, he gave them to Adeus, and to the other governors. He also called together all the 
people to Jerusalem, and stood in the midst of the Temple, and made the following speech 
to them: ‘ You know, O Jews, that God hath kept our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 
in mind continually; and for the sake of their righteousness, hath not left off the care of you. 
Indeed, he hath assisted me in gaining this authority of the king to raise up our wall, and 
finish what is wanting of the Temple. I desire you, therefore, who well know the ill-will 
our neighboring nations bear to us, and that once they are made sensible that we are in earnest 
about building, they will come upon us, and contrive many ways of obstructing our works 



Come , and Let Us Build Up the Wall of Jerusalem. 51 1 



that you will in the first place, put your trust in God, as in Him that will assist us against 
their hatred, and to intermit building neither night nor day, but to use all diligence, and to 
hasten on the work, now we have this special opportunity for it.’ When he had said this, 
he gave orders that rulers should measure the wall, and part the work of it among the 
people, according to their villages and 
cities, as every one’s abilities should 
require. And when he had added 
this promise, that he him- 
self, with his servant s, 
would assist them, he dis- 
solved the assembly. So 
the Jews prepared for the 
work; that is the name 
they are called by 
from the day that they 
came up from Baby- 
lon, which is taken 
from the tribe of 
Judah, which came 
first to these places, 
and thence 
both they and 
the country 
gained that ap- 
pellation.” 

But when 
the Ammon- 
ites and Mo- 
abites heard of the reso- 
lution of the Jews they formed 
a conspiracy with the view of 
attacking and destroying them 
before the walls could be completed. Fortunately, though the plot was 
conceived in the city of Ashdod, some Jews living there discovered the 
plans that had been made and hastened to Jerusalem to apprise their 
brethren of the danger that threatened, and thus give them timely notice 
to prepare a defence. 


IF IT PLEASE THE KING, LET LETTERS BE GIVEN ME 
TO THE GOVERNORS. — Neh. 2. 7. 


512 There was a Great Cry of the People , and of Their Wives. 

Nehemiah was in no wise discouraged by the evil reports that came to 
him, but took the precaution to give orders to all those engaged in 
building the walls to keep well in rank and have their armor on while 
at work, that they might not be taken unaware. The mason and the hod- 
carrier alike wore their swords constantly, while shields were deposited 
at a place near at hand where they could be instantly grasped. In 
addition to these measures of safety Nehemiah placed trumpeters five 
hundred feet apart round the city, with instructions to give warning of 
the approach cf any enemy. Nehemiah gave much of his own time to 
encouraging the builders and to watching for signs of danger, his custom 
being to walk round the city several times each night. 

In addition to the great responsibilities which rested upon Nehemiah 
as superintendent of the builders, he assumed others of a yet more trying 
, order, which was no less than a reformation of several 

The Jews 

taxed to im- abuses that had much to do with making the people so 
poverish ment. indifferent to their condition before Nehemiah came to Jeru- 
salem. The Jews were required to pay such large tributes to Ahasuerus 
that a large majority were reduced to such poverty that they were 
scarcely above the condition of slaves. Their possessions were mortgaged 
for money borrowed at usurious rates of interest, and those who were 
unable to meet their burdensome obligations were punished in many cruel 
ways, not the least of which was the enslavement of the children of the 
unfortunate debtors. To reform these terrible abuses that were destroying 
the ambition of the people, Nehemiah called a solemn assembly of all 
those in Jerusalem. At this meeting he excoriated the usurers, and so 
shamed them of their practices that he induced them to release the pos- 
sessions of their debtors and to lend their aid to the building of a city to 
be dedicated to God. He also set an example to them of his own earnest- 
ness and loyalty to the interests of all alike by maintaining at his own 
table one hundred and fifty poor Jews, and gave with generous hand to 
those found in distress and to those who returned in poverty from Persia. 

The success and liberality of Nehemiah, however, brought him poor 
reward, for as the walls ros & day after day and the breaches were repaired, 
a party of the nobles in Judah, under the instigation of Sanballat, Tobiah 



In the Night will They Come to Slay Thee. 513 

and Geshem, formed a conspiracy to bring Nehemiah to the king under 
a charge of treason. At four several times they sent out open letters, so 
that all might read them, wherein they gave currency to concocted reports 


THEN ELIASHIB, THE HIGH PRIEST, ROSE UP WITH HIS BRETHREN, THE PRIESTS. — Nehemiah 3. x. 

33 


514 They Perceived that This Work was Wrought of Our God. 



that the Jews had resolved to rebel against Ahasuerus and were fortifying 
the city preparatory to declaring Nehemiah king. They also charged him 
with encouraging certain prophets to preach and proclaim, “ There is a 
king in Judah.” But to all of these attacks Nehemiah contented himself 
with making no other answer than a denial and an appeal to God for 

judgment upon his motives, which was 
sufficient to retain him in the confidence 


k. * ' - 




YE SEE THE DISTRESS WE ARE IN, HOW JERUSALEM UETH WASTE.— Neh. ?. 17. 


of the king. The walls of Jerusalem were finished at last, after two years 
and four months of diligent work, in the twenty-eighth year of Ahasuerus’ 
c C | C brating reign, an d the completion was celebrated by a grand feast 

the rcstora- which lasted eight days. But there was much yet to be done. 

The walls were finished, it is true, but there were compara- 

Jerusalem. 

tively few houses, and the building of these to accommodate 
the people was the next necessary thing to be done. 

On the second month after the walls were completed there was cele- 
brated “ the year of release,” which was the inauguration of the people in 


He Read Therein . . . from the Morning until Midday. 515 



their new life in restored Jerusalem. On the first day of this public 
observance Ezra appeared before the people and read to them the Book 
of the Law , assisted by six scribes on his right hand and several Levites 
on his left. “ The reading produced an impression like that made on 
Josiah. All the people wept at what they heard ; not only, we may well 
believe, with regret at the past 
glories of their nation, but at 
the recital of the 
sins for which 
that glory 
had depart- 
ed, not un- 


I 


SOME OF THE CHIEFS OF THE FATHERS GAVE UNTO THE WORK. — Nell. 7. 70. 


mixed with a penitent consciousness of their own guilt. But Nehemiah 
(who is now first mentioned in the transaction), supported by Ezra and the 
Levites, bade them cease their sorrow, and go home to ‘ eat 
the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for 
whom nothing was prepared, for the day was holy to Jehovah.’ 

The people went away to make great mirth, because they understood the 
words that were declared unto them. When the reading was resumed on the 
following day they came to the institution of the Feast of Tabernacles in 


A day holy to 
Jehovah. 


5 r6 The Children of Israel Should Dwell in Booths in the Feast. 



this very month of Tisri. Their excited minds caught the signal for 
fresh rejoicing in Jehovah. They went forth into the mount to fetch 
branches of olive, and pine, and myrtle, and palm, and thick trees, and 
made booths on the roofs and in the courts of their houses, and in the 
Temple court and along the streets to the city gates. 

Such a Feast of Tab- • ernacles had not been 

kept since the days of Joshua. The reading of 


* LET US RISE UP AND BUILD. SO THEY STRENGTHENED THEIR HANDS FOR THIS WORK. — Neh. 2. 18. 

the law was continued for all the seven days of the feast and the eighth 
was a solemn assembly, as Moses had commanded.” 

After a large number of houses had been built in Jerusalem, Nehe- 
miah sent word to all the priests and Levites throughout Judah to come 
and make their homes in the city, and ordered those engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits to bring a tithe of their productions each year to Jerusalem 
to maintain the public worship. By these means the city was filled with 


Many Times Didst Thou Deliver Them According to Thy Mercies. 517 



jamin, while those of the other ten tribes were assigned to the cities of 
Judah, but just what cities we are not told. 

There was also another celebration held . after the settlement of the 
two tribes in Jerusalem, at which the walls of the city were 
dedicated by solemn ceremonies. “ The priests and Levites, ded,cat '°" of 

J r 7 the walls. 

called together from all the cities of Judah, purified the 

walls and the people. The rulers were divided into two parts, which went 

round the walls in procession to the right and to the left, the one headed 


a larger population than it had at the time of its capture by Nebuchad- 
nezzar. From the language of Nehemiah it would appear that the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem were exclusively of the tribes of Judah and Ben- 


THE PORTERS AND THE SINGERS AND THE EEVITES WERE APPOINTED.— Neh. 7. 1. 


518 / Cast Forth all the Household Stuff of Tobiah. 

by Ezra and the other by Nehemiah, each with his train of priests and 
Levites, blowing the trumpets and singing thanks to God. The day was 
crowned with great sacrifices, and their shouts of joy sounded from the 
rock of Zion far and wide over the 'hills of Judah. The only remaining 
records of Nehemiah’s twelve years 7 government relate to the provisions 
made for the priests and Levites and singers, and the separation of the 
Ammonites and Moabites from the congregation, according to the sentence 
pronounced on them by Moses — another indication of the reorganization 
of the Church of Jehovah. 77 

Nehemiah remained in Jerusalem nearly seven years, and then 
returned to the Persian court, but some time afterward he again visited 
Jerusalem, having been called to reform abuses that had 
NCh |a«t of the * 6 ff rown U P amon g the princes. He found Tobiah, an enemy, 
prophets. occupying a room in the Temple, which had been set apart 
for the sacred vessels and tithes, all of which were removed 
to make room for the household effects of the new occupant. The effect 
of this was to drive away the Levites, who, being defrauded of their tithes, 
had abandoned the Temple and gone into other cities. Nehemiah threw 
out the furniture of Tobiah, returned to their proper places the sacred 
vessels, meat-offerings, frankincense, etc., and then recalled the Levites and 
established them in their offices again. The people had also fallen into 
a profanation of the Sabbath by engaging in their usual occupations on 
that day, and giving no attention to worship or the observance of the 
Mosaic laws. This Nehemiah corrected by ordering the gates of Jerusa- 
lem shut from Saturday night until the close of the Sabbath, and 
appointed guards to enforce' a strict compliance with the law. His third 
reform dealt with the mixed marriages, against which Ezra had previously 
promulgated his decree. The Jews had married among the Ammonites 
and Moabites, and the effect could hardly have been otherwise than to 
lead them into idolatry. 

Nehemiah repeated the law of Moses again to the people and induced 
them, as Ezra had done, to divorce their heathen wives and thereafter 
abide by the command that enjoined them from taking women from 
among strange nations. 



prophets, and hence called by the Jews “ the seal of the prophets.” The 
time of his ministrations was in the fifth century B. C., and his death 
probably occurred about four hundred years B. C. Between this date and 
the birth of Christ there is no sacred record, except the Apocrypha, by 
which we are able to discover the conditions through which the Jews 
passed during this interval. 


Thus Cleansed I Them From All Strangers . 519 

The end of Nehemiah’s life is not recorded in the Bible, his history 
concluding with a description of the reforms he accomplished in Judah, 
and of his curses upon those who had defiled the priesthood. The last 
exclamation he is credited with making is as follows : “ Remember me, O 
my God, for good,” which might have been appropriate as his dying 
words, yet of his death nothing is written. He was the last of the 


WHAT EVIL THING IS THIS THAT YE DO, 
AND PROFANE THE SABBATH ?— Neh. 13. 17. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


The four hundred years of Apocrypha history. 

HERE are fourteen books in the Apocrypha, in the fol- 
lowing order, viz: i and 2 Esdras; Tobit; Judith; 
the rest of the chapters of Esther; the Wisdom of 
Solomon; the Wisdom of Jesus, or Ecclesiasticus ; 
Baruch; The Songs of the Three Holy Children; 
The History of Susanna; History of the Destruction 
of Bel and the Dragon ; the Prayer of Manasses ; 
and 1 and 2 Maccabees. 

The original meaning of the Greek word Apoc- 
rypha, was “ hidden, secret;” but about the end of the second century 
the signification was changed to “spurious,” or “unpublished.” The 
term is, however, variously applied in the Roman Catholic and Protestant 
Churches. The former uses the word to designate those books which 
were refused admission to the canon of the Old Testament. Protestant 
theology generally calls them pseudepigrapha , or doubtful records, and 
made them the subject of much dispute until they were declared, by the 
Council of Trent, to be a part of the canon. These books are not 
included in the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament, but the Septuagint 
embraced them, and having been frequently quoted by the early Church 
writers as sacred books, they were at length received into the Christian 
canon by a synod of African bishops held at Hippo A. D. 393, and were 
accordingly adopted by the Latin, or Catholic Church. 

The Protestants continued to print the Apocryphal books in all 
their Bibles until about the year 1821, when discussions arose in the 
Disputes of re- British and Foreign Bible Society which, in 1826, resulted 
ligious writers. j n tp e adoption of a resolution that that society should no 
longer include them in the Bibles which they circulated. German 
Protestants having long been divided on the subject, some of the most 

(520) 



This Esdras Went Up from Babylon as a Scribe. 


52i 



learned divines, like Hengstenberg and Stier, accepting the books as 
inspired writings, while others equally distinguished, such as Ebrard and 
Keerl, declare against their reception. The Greek Church, at a synod 
held in Jerusalem in 1672, adopted the Apocrypha as a part of the 
sacred writings. There are also several Apocryphal books of the New 


Testament, which Protestants 


generally hold to be spurious, 


claiming that they were 
written by heretics in 
the special interests of 
their sects. The Ro- 
man Catholics, how- 
ever, accept them as authentic and adopt them in all their Bibles, in some 
of which appear a history of the boyhood of Jesus. The Old Testament 
Apocrypha is generally a repetition of the history recorded in the other 


the stege oe tyre by Alexander. 



522 There Appeared Before Them 


One in White Clothing. 


sacred books, going back even to the time of David and Solomon, whose 
wise sayings are preserved in Ecclesiasticus. Maccabees is the only book 
of special interest in the Apocrypha, and even this is hardly important 
beyond the description given of the struggle for religious liberty against 
Antiochus Epiphanes. For a connection between the Old and New Tes- 
taments, showing the affairs and conditions of the Jews during the four 
hundred years preceding Christ, we must rely on profane history, which, 
however, is reliable, and quite as interesting as the Bible record. 

Taking up the history following the death of Nehemiah, we find the 
priestly succession as follows : Eliashib, appointed in the time of Ezra, 
was succeeded by Joiada, who in turn was succeeded by his 

the PHcsthooI son J onat ^ an who was high-priest from B. C. 405 to 359. 

His administration was a bloody one, for besides many other 
crimes he murdered Joshua, who was his own brother. Jaddua, who was 
the last high-priest mentioned in the Old Testament (B. C. 350) assumed 
the office upon the death of Jonathan, and held it for twenty years, or 
until the downfall of the Persian empire and the death of Darius, and it was 
during his pontificate also that the Samaritans built a rival temple on 
Mount Gerizim. 

Onias I. was next in line after the death of Jaddua and retained the 
office until B. C. 300, and during his rule Jerusalem was captured by 
Ptolemy. After the battle of Ipsus, by the death of Onias I. the high- 
priesthood devolved upon his son, Simon I., known as the Just, who 
completed the canon of the Old Testament. His death occurred B. C. 
292, presaged by many miracles and calamities, and his successor was 
Eleazar, his brother. Eleazar was devoted to literature, who 
by application to Ptolemy II. Philadelphus, obtained an order 
for the appointment of seventy-two translators to compile the 
Jewish history, and this work — performed by learned Jews of 
Alexandria, is known as the Septuagint. Eleazar was succeeded by 
Manasseh, who was followed by Onias II. B. C. 240, and then by Simon II. 
B. C. 226; it was during the priesthood of the latter that Ptolemy IV. was 
driven from the Temple by the manifestation of a supernatural power. 
Simon II. died B. C. 198, and surrendered the priesthood to Onias III. 
During the pontificate of Onias III. Apollonius conceived a purpose to 


Heliodorus 
scourged by 
angels. 


They Scourged Him Until He was Nigh Unto Death. 


523 



rifle the Temple of its rich treasure, and sent Heliodorus, his treasurer, 
to Jerusalem to bring away the valuables. Heliodorus, in obedience to 
the king’s command, invaded the Temple, but upon reaching the treas- 

ure chamber he was confronted by 
a mounted angel and two others 
who ran by the horse’s side. These 
fell upon Heliodorus and scourged 
him so severely that his life was 


This is jaddua, whom god has sent. 

saved only through the prayers 
of Onias. 

Onias III. was deposed from the priesthood and the office given to 
Jason, who was in turn deposed B. C. 172 to give place to Menelaus 
who purchased the office by a large bribe to the king, Antiochus IV. 
Menelaus proved himself to be a villain and a murderer, perpetrating so 
many crimes that even Antiochus interfered to curtail his power and 


524 


He Tormented Them with Many Cruelties. 


excesses. During his priesthood the Jews fell into a wretched condition; 
the worship of Baal was made obligatory, and the people were practically 



enslaved. 

When Eleazar publicly opposed the oppressive laws of Antiochus 
and refused to violate the Mosaic injunction to refrain from eating pork, 
he was scourged to death. His sufferings, how- 
ever, may not be compared with those of his wife 
and seven sons, who, refusing to partake 

of the forbid- 
den fl e s h , 
were put to 
the most terri- 
ble torments, 
first by flog- 
gings, but 
| these having 
no other ef- 
fect than to 
strengthen the 
resolution of 
the victims to 
forging weapons for the die rather 

DEFENCE OF BETHSURA. 

than trans- 
gress the laws of their fathers, they were 
tortured with a refinement of Satanic in- 
genuity, one after another, with fire, and 
by mutilation until all expired, but to the end they remained undaunted. 

The persecutions of Antiochus, who died B. C. 164, led to the deliver- 
ance of Judea from the yoke of Syrian oppression, for the spirit of revolt 
was aroused by the valorous conduct of Maccabeus, who. 

Revolt of the ^ 

Maccabees, with his five sons, harangued the people and so inflamed 
them that a considerable army was raised which, though 
poorly armed and having to take refuge in caves, by bold attack struck 
consternation into their enemies. The wonderful success of Maccabeus 


They Wept Upon Beholding the Temple Desecrated. 525 

was cut short by death in the third year of his patriotic endeavors, 
but his third son, Judas, took up the cause and prosecuted it more 
resolutely than even his father had. Judas beat the governor of 
Coelosyria at Beth-heran, and directly after, with only six thousand foot 
soldiers, he attacked Philip, governor of Jerusalem, with forty-seven 
thousand foot and cavalry soldiers, whom he defeated with a dreadful 
slaughter. 

This victory left the route open for Judas to Jerusalem, upon which 
he at once marched and entered the city without opposition, though a 
force of Syrians still held possession of the strong tower on Mount Zion. 

The sight which met his eyes was one which excited him to the exhibi- 
tion of great sorrow, for he found the Temple almost destroyed by the 
profanation to which it had been subject and the neglect it had after- 
ward received. Nevertheless, Judas and his followers gave praise to God 
for having made them the instrument for the reclamation of the cities 
and the holy shrines of the Temple, which they immediately set about 
to repair, and held a feast of solemn dedication, which has ever since 
been observed as a mark of the regeneration of the people as well as 
the re-establishment of the Temple. Though Judas had defeated the 
Syrians in every engagement, and had made himself master of a very 
large portion of Judea, where he had set up anew the worship of God, 
his enemies continued active in vexing the Jews, many of whom were 
treacherously murdered, and upon the accession of Antiochus V., Eupator, 
B. C. 164, hostilities were renewed under Lysias against Judas. War 
was begun again by Lysias laying siege to Bethsura, which Judas had 
strongly fortified and garrisoned with several thousand troops. 

The force which the Syrians brought against this place consisted of 
one hundred thousand infantry, twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two 
elephants trained to war in the far east, but never before used in the 
western provinces. These animals were relied upon to strike terror into 
the Jews, which they partially succeeded in doing. Each elephant was 
richly caparisoned with bright clothes and gleaming breast and forehead 
armor, while upon the back was a howdah, in which eight men were 
stationed with cross-bows and javelins, being thus elevated that they 


526 Giving a Charge Upon Their Enemies Like Lions. 

could hurl their weapons with greater effect and precision, while the 
huge animal would trample the enemy and carry destruction with his 
tusks and trunk. 

The powerful army sent against Bethsura failed to accomplish its 
capitulation, since the garrison held out by the manifestation of extra- 
ordinary heroism until Judas could march from Jerusalem to the rescue. 
When the relief party came upon the scene the battle waged with ten- 
fold increased fury. Eleazar, the brother of Judas, displayed such valor 
that his name has survived to this day as the synonym of patriotism 
and courage. He was ever in the thickest of the fight, plying his 
sword with a desperate energy and exciting the admiration even of his 
enemy. 

At length, perceiving the largest elephant of the Syrian host trampling 
hundreds of . his valiant countrymen under foot, while the beast w r a's 
carrying terror among the soldiers, Eleazar ran up to the huge beast 
and plunged his spear into its belly, until the mighty animal fell dead, 
but in its fall it crushed out the noble life of the heroic and self- 
sacrificing Maccabean. 

The death of Eleazar had a most discouraging effect upon the Jews, who 
continued to fight, however, until they were fairly overwhelmed by 
Eleazar* s heroic superiority of numbers ; Judas was compelled to retreat to 
death under Jerusalem, where he resisted every effort made to capture 
an elephant. c ity. Bethsura also held out for a long while, and 

until famine forced the garrison to surrender upon honorable terms. 

Wars continued between the Jews and Syrians, involving the Romans 
ultimately, until the death of Judas, B. C. 16 1. He was permitted to lead 
the army of Judea, however, until he had defeated Nicanor in a great battle 
wherein the Syrians lost thirty-five thousand men, and had established the 
worship of God and the independence of all Judea. 

Here ends the history of the Apocrypha, which leaves an interval of 
one hundred and sixty-one years between the death of Judas and the birth 
of Christ. For events which occurred during this time we are dependent 
entirely upon profane history. All of Judas’ brothers, except Eleazar, 


Persuaded Them /o Agree to All Reasonable Conditions. 


527 



attained to the high-priesthood, in which office they discharged their duties 
in a manner as honorable as was their patriotism. Though the war was 
continued for supremacy throughout Palestine, the Jews were generally 
successful until the death of John Hyrcanus, son of Simon, and high-priest 

from B. C. 135-106, un- 
der whom the Holy Land 


CHARIOT OF ALEXANDER THE HORRIBLE. 

was restored to its ancient limits, according to the allotment of Joshua. 
Upon his death, however, affairs became less favorable to the Jews. The 
Hellenizing spirit again grew strong under Hyrcanus’ son, Aristobulus, 
who was first of the Maccabean house to renounce the laws of Moses 


528 Took the City and Made Unspeakable Slaughter . 



and give himself to a course of wickedness and crime, and his end was 
a fitting conclusion to a life of infamy which would have been even 
greater had he survived longer. 

Aristobulus was succeeded by his brother Alexander Janneus who 
retained the priesthood until B. C. 78. His cruelty exceeded that of his 
Alexander infamous brother, and caused the people to give him a new 
the horrible. name characteristic of his disposition, viz. : the Thracian. 
His ambition was immeasurable, and as a consequence the Jews were kept 
in a constant state of oppression. He aroused the enmity of Cleopatra and 
Ptolemy La- 
thy rus, who, 
though set 
to fighting 
b e t w e e n 
themselves, 
soon after in- 
vaded Pales- 
tine. His 


SLAUGHTER OF THE MACCABEAUS. 

most dangerous enemies, however, were among the Pharisees of his own 
people, who began a revolt during the Feast of Tabernacles and pelted 
him with missiles as he was officiating as high-priest. To avenge this 
insult Alexander ordered his troops to destroy the multitude, which they 
did to the number of six thousand. 

The very great disfavor in which he was held by his own people 
prompted Alexander to secure the services of a large number of foreign 
mercenaries, at the head of whom he marched against the country east of 


Not Having so Much as Burial in the Earth . 529 

the Jordan and laid tribute upon Amathus, but he was soon after defeated 
by an Arabian king named Orodes. At the same time the Jews rose in 
rebellion, and though Alexander defeated them at first, they gained the 
help of Demetrius, a Syrian king, and defeated him in a battle in which 
nearly all his mercenaries were destroyed. 

A year after his defeat by Demetrius, Alexander contrived to raise 
another army of sixty thousand men, with which he drove Demetrius out of 
Palestine and then captured Jerusalem from the insurgents, a crucifixion of 
This success he signalized by giving a grand banquet to his his enemies, 
numerous concubines, and as a divertisement for these creatures he publicly 
crucified eight hundred of his enemies, first murdering their wives and 
children before their faces. Four years after this shameful act he became 
afflicted with a painful malady, of which he died after enduring a suffering 
equal to that he had imposed upon his unfortunate enemies. 

Alexander was succeeded by his wife Alexandra, who officiated at the 
head of the heirarchy for nine years and then gave place to Aristobulus, 
B. C. 69, who made terms with the Romans, but afterward 

Observance of 

found that he had admitted a new enemy into the country the sabbath 
whom riches could not seduce from his purpose, as it was causes a great 
the intention of Pompey, the Roman leader, to make Pales- 
tine tributary to his own country. Finding that there were too many 
factions in Jerusalem to encourage a defence of the city, Aristobulus tried 
to purchase security for his people by an offer of a large sum of money 
and the surrender of the city; but while he was conducting negotiations 
with Pompey, a faction in Jerusalem closed the gates and prepared to 
defend the place. Siege was immediately laid to the city, but it was not 
until three months of vigorous fighting that the place was captured. 
Nor would its capture have been effected then had it not been for the 
observance of the Sabbath day, during which the Jews would not fight, 
and thus suffered the Romans to work unmolested with their battering 
rams until a breach in the towers was made. 

When Pompey had captured Jerusalem he treated the Jews with 
unexpected magnanimity; instead of sacking the Temple of its treasure, 
he commanded that it be purified, and would not suffer his soldiers to 


34 


53 ° 


Had Taken the Country and Killed Antioclms. 



molest any of the sacred furniture. More than this, he set up Hyrcanus 
II. as high-priest, and assisted in the restoration of order and the institu- 
tion of religious observance according to the Jewish worship. He contented 
himself with fixing the tribute that should be annually paid to Rome, 
and with carrying Aristobulus as prisoner back with him. This generous 
treatment had the excellent effect intended, for find- i n g themselves 


so well respected by their con- 
at once became satisfied with their 
Csesar, and were obedient sub- 
them such concessions as they 
erance from the temporal 


querors, the Jews 
condition under 
jects, which obtained for 
chose to ask, besides a deliv- 
power of the priesthood. 

Civil war 
broke out in B. 
C. 40, shortly 
after the Tem- 
ple had been 
pillaged by Cras- 
sus, king of 
Syria, during 
which Aristobu- 
lus was released 


and sent to Judea from Rome. He 
was basely murdered, however, while 
on the way, by friends of Pompey, and Antipater 
• was made procurator of all Judea, by which that country * came almost 
entirely under Roman administration. Antipater’s four sons were placed 
in official positions, where they would be an aid in maintaining the 
supremacy throughout the several districts, and thus render rebellion, 
if attempted, less harmful. One of his sons, whose name was Herod, 
a character that figures so prominently in sacred history, was made gov- 
ernor of Galilee, and though only fifteen years of age at this time, he 
manifested thus early something of the cruel disposition which distinguished 


THE DESOLATION OF JUDAH. 


53 1 


After He Had Put to Flight and Destroyed Them . 

his life. One of his first acts was to execute the leader of an opposing 
faction, for which offence he was ordered to appear before the Sanhedrim 
for trial, but Hyrcanus adjourned the hearing so as to permit of his escape 
to Damascus, where he found protection from Sextus Caesar, who was 
governor of Ccelesyra. 

The death of Julius Caesar, which occurred B. C. 44, was a calamity 
to the Jews scarcely to be estimated, for he had guaranteed them the 
right of practicing their religion unmolested, which privilege was imme- 
diately taken from them by Cassius, who had assumed the government 
of Syria. He not only denied the Jews the right to worship, but imposed 
a tax of seven hundred talents (about $1,250,000) upon the country, 
which could only be paid by taking the larger portion from the Temple, 
which Antipater did not hesitate to do, and for which act he was assas- 
sinated by a priest under Hyrcanus named Malicus. This man was in 
turn murdered by Herod. 

At this period (B. C. 42) Mark Antony is first mentioned as a 
character in Jewish history. He left Syria at a time when his presence 
was most needed — if his influence was so powerful — to allay Mark Antony 
the popular ill-will against Cassius, whose intolerance was and Cleopatra, 
quite as rapacious and oppressive to the Syrians as to the Jews. But he 
had met the beautiful Cleopatra, and in the allurement of her charms 
neglected all else to repose in the light of her magnetic eyes. At the 
instigation of the beautiful Egyptian enchantress Antony aspired to the 
rulership of the world, which at that time was held by a triumvirate.. 
This triple government did not last long, however, for as Antony and 
his brother-in-law, Octavianus, held the principal possessions and influence, 
after the battle of Philippi a new assignment of provinces was made., by 
which Octavianus became master of the West and Antony assumed 
possession of all the East. By this arbitrary division Octavianus and 
Antony, of course, became rivals, since the consuming ambition of the 
time was an extension of power and influence. An open rupture soon 
took place, precipitated by the well-founded charge of Octavianus that 
Antony was squandering the revenues of the East, to satisfy the caprices 
and extravagances of Cleopatra, under whose witchery he became plastic 


532 


He Came Unawares and Burnt Up Towns and Cities . 



in her hands. This accusation aroused the active hostility of the Egyp- 
tian queen, who now influenced Antony to make his will and deposit it 
with the vestal virgins, bequeathing all his possessions to her children, 
by which one of them should become successor to Julius Caesar. By 

some means Octavianus ob- 
tained possession of this 
will, and by reading it 
publicly, inflamed the 
anger of the people 
against An- 
tony. The 
Senate soon 
ssued a pro- 
clamation of 
war against 
Cleopatra, who 
was charged 
with subvert- 
ing the reason of An- 
tony to her over- 
weening ambition. 
The issues were now joined, 
and Antony divorced his wife 
Octavia in order to break the 
last tie that bound him to 
Rome. The two hastily brought their 
large armies into action, and sailed their 
fleets of warships toward the Ambracian 
Gulf. They drew up their squadrons 
off Actiuin, and the battle began at once 
with great vigor. In the beginning the fleet of Cleopatra and Antony 
had some advantage, and would have probably won the battle but for 
the cowardice of the Egyptian queen, who, fearful of the result, and being 
in the rear of Antony, drew off quickly, followed by her sixty galleys. 


DEAD BODIES I<AY DIKE A WALL 
AROUND JERUSALEM. 


Whoso Taketh Pleasure in Wickedness Shall be Condemned . 533 



Discovering her flight, so great was his infatuation that Antony threw 
himself into a swift-sailing boat and sped after her. His lieutenants 
continued the battle for a while, but without avail, and the whole fleet 
surrendered to the victorious Octavianus. Antony followed Cleopatra back 
to Egypt, and there renewed his shameful life of abandon and luxury, 
until he was aroused to action by the invasion of Octavianus, who laid 
siege to Alexandria. Antony here showed the true spirit of 
a soldier, and defended the city with rare heroism 
until a messenger brought him a 
false report of Cleopatra’s death. 

Without hesitat- 
ing to await a 
confirmation of 
the news he fell 
upon his sword, 
but before ex- 
piring was 
carr i e d into 
the beautiful 
queen’s pres- 
ence. Almost 
while watching the 
glaze of death in her 
lover’s eyes, Cleopatra was seized by the soldiers of Octavianus and 
carried before their general. Neither her beauty nor art of persuasion 
could avail her now, but as preparations were being made to carry her to 
Rome to grace the triumph of Octavianus, one of her attendants contrived 
to convey to her, in a basket of flowers, an asp, the bite of which is 
immediately fatal. This reptile she applied to her breast, and thus mis- 
erably perished, but avoided a disgrace that would have been more bitter 
to her imperious nature than any form of death. 

While these events were transpiring in Egypt a powerful party in 
Syria raised an insurrection, and succeeded in forming themselves into an 
army, and also in gaining the aid of the Parthians under Prince Pacorus. 


octavianus reads the wide 

OF ANTONY. 


534 Many of Them Also Wounded Escaped Naked. 

Antigonus, the only surviving son of Aristobulus, by a gift of money 
equal to nearly $2,000,000, and five hundred women of noble families, 
induced the Parthians to give him their assistance in his contest for 
the throne of Judea. With this force Antigonus laid siege to Jerusalem, 
during which Herod was driven out of the city, but capitulation of the 
place was avoided by the submission of Antigonus’ claims to the 
Parthian commander, whose decision could hardly be otherwise than favor- 
able to the claimant. 

Antigonus ruled for a period of only three years (B. C. 40-37), when 
Herod returned with a considerable force, which was further augmented by 
Slaughter of the of Antony, whose troops were placed at his dis- 

jerusaiem’s posal. Herod defeated Antigonus’ army in a decisive 
inhabitants, "battle, and then marched against Jerusalem, which he cap- 
tured after a siege of six months, during which time the inhabitants of 
the city suffered all the horrors of a famine. Upon its capitulation the 
Roman soldiers began a slaughter of the now defenceless citizens, which 
was so remorseless and vengeful that Herod was compelled to restrain 
the brutal passions of his soldiery, not, however, from a merciful 
disposition, but to prevent a complete extirpation of the inhabitants, 
which would have given him possession of a depopulated capital. The 
unfortunate Antigonus was taken, and being first loaded with chains 
was sent to Antony, who, at the instigation of Herod, soon afterward 
put him to death, and thus expired the last sovereign of the Maccabean 
house. 

In many ways Herod greatly resembled the bloody and vengeful 
Antiochus. He put to death every member of the Sanhedrim, save two, 
because they had advised against the surrender of Jerusalem ; he also 
instigated the drowning of a high-priest that Cleopatra had forced him 
to appoint. He did not even withhold his murderous hands from his own 
household, for upon the bare suspicion of unfaithfulness, probably disloy- 
alty, he killed his beautiful wife Marianne, and soon afterward brought 
his mother-in-law to a like fate. 

To gain the good opinion of his subjects, who despised him with an 
implacable hatred, Herod instituted the Olympian games in Jerusalem, 


535 


Their Eyes Saw the Majesty of His Glory . 

and popularized gladiatorial combats, fights between wild animals, and 
other savage amusements ; but in addition to this he g;ave 

° Savage amuse- 

the greatest attention to a rebuilding of the Temple, which * e nts inaug- 

had become decayed and unsightly from neglect and abuse. 

For nine years he kept a force of eighteen hundred arti- 
sans at work on the sacred edifice, which on its completion was a marvel 

of beauty, far surpassing the 
Temple of Solomon. Nor did 
he neglect the commercial in- 
terests of his empire. A city, 


u rated by 
Herod. 



MARIANNE GIVEN POISON BEFORE HER TENT BY ORDER OF HEROD. 

with a fine harbor, which in honor of Augustus Caesar he called Ccesarea , 
was built after the Graeco-Roman style of architecture and on a scale of 
unrivaled splendor, including among its chief features of interest an 
immense theatre and amphitheatre for games, besides many exquisite 
pieces of statuary. In the theatre here constructed, however, he came 
near being assassinated, the plot upon his life being discovered but a 
few hours before it was to be executed. A few years after, or B. C. 7, 
Herod suspected his two sons, who had been sent to Rome to be educated, 


536 The Lord Only is Righteous , and There is None Other but He. 


of conspiring against his life out of revenge for the murder of their 
mother, and though there was no evidence of such a conspiracy he ordered 
the sons home, and upon a false charge had them strangled. 

Two other sons still remained to him, and, singularly enough, his 
favorites. One of these, whose name was Antipater, stung to revenge for 
The dreadful triple rnurder of his mother and two brothers, formed a 

end of conspiracy with his half-brother, Pheroras, against Herod, but 
Herod. though their plot was well conceived and they had the active 
sympathy of seven thousand Pharisees, their plans miscarried. Pheroras 
was destroyed by poison, while Antipater was brought to trial and con- 
demned, but while awaiting the confirmation of the judgment against him 
Herod was seized of a dreadful venereal disease, which set him in a frenzy 
by reason of the boils which covered his body, and, anticipating his death, 
he ordered that the heads of the chief families of Judea be gathered 
together in the hippodrome at Jericho, and there be slaughtered, that his 
own funeral might not be wanting of mourners, and with his last breath 
he also ordered the execution of Antipater. This was the condition of 
affairs in Judea at the time of Christ’s birth. 




CHAPTER I. 

The Mighty God , the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 



In Him was life ; and the 
life was the light of men. 

— St. Mark. 


2 MEN ! Glory to God in the highest I We 
have followed the sacred narrative as it has 
been recorded by the inspired writers, 
and learned thereby how the beauty, 
harmony and blessed condition of the 
world, as it came fresh from the crea- 
tive hand of God, became disfigured through the insidious intro- 
duction of sin ; how peace and happiness, that was man’s original 
condition, were dispelled by disobedience, and the gift of life was taken 
away as a punishment for violation of the divine command. The mercy 
of God, however, endureth forever, so that though our first parents fell 
from their celestial estate, and evil spread its baneful influence over the 
earth, until it might have pleased the Heavenly Father to destroy again 
the work of His hands, His divine compassion provided a means of 
salvation through a sacrifice that would impress mankind with His loving 
indulgence ; a vicarious offering that would regain for man the blissful 
station lost through yielding to temptation. 

This restoration was like the breaking of a new day on creation, 
when the light of the world rose, not in the sky, to pass its brief circuit 

( 537 ) 




( 538 ) 


the light ok the world cradled tn a manger. 





The Lord God shall give unto Him the Throne of . . . David. 539 


and sink behind the hills with darkness fast in the wake, but a Sun that 
should never set nor lose its radiance by opposing cloud; a Light that 
beats upon the soul, imparting hope and eternal life, and which brings 
us back to the Fatherhood of God. 

This perennial sun of which I speak was the Son of God, about 
whom we love so much to read because of His mission, 
character and beautiful life, and because the story of His the^worid 
meekness, suffering and cruel death is so sad that our 
hearts are awakened with the touch of profound pity and a realization of 



BETHANY. 


the love that could prompt the sacrifice He made for our redemption and 
reinstatement to the heavenly estates designed for His children when 
God made the world. 

In closing the Apocrypha and recording the chief events of Herod’s 
reign, I deferred mention of Christ’s birth in order to conclude the Old 
Testament account as given in the narrative, which contains no reference 


54° A Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of ... . Israel. 

to Jesus, though anticipating occurrences four years subsequent to our 
Lord’s birth. We must, therefore, turn back to view the most important 
incident that transpired during the rulership of Herod the Great, whose 
life, from the time he ascended the throne, was a fitful fever. We have 
seen how he had rebuilt the Temple, in a style more magnificent than Solo- 
mon ever dreamed of, and how he turned Palestine into a dependency 
of Rome, valuable for its commerce no less than for its importance as 
an adjunct to Roman power. His reign had therefore been of much con- 
sequence, both to the people of Palestine, whose condition he somewhat 
ameliorated, and to Rome, that had now begun a mastery of the world 
by striking the first victorious blow at Assyria. But though a successful 
ruler, Herod, as we have already noticed, was an inflexible tyrant, a 
Herod the criminal at heart, and with all his outward show of religious 
bloody sword tendency and respect for the Jewish theocracy, he was very 
of Israel. much less devoted to the interests of his subjects than to 
his own ambition, which he sought to attain through pretences that would 
disguise his real motives. These designs became more apparent in the 
later years of his dominion and, as a natural consequence, his intrigues 
and plans were less successful ; his popularity rapidly diminished, and 
being a man of violent disposition, the obstacles which set at defiance 
his ambitions provoked him to desperate measures that finally brought 
him to a miserable end. 

The prophecies of Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel and Micah, that a Messiah 
should be born to redeem the world, were now at the period of fulfill- 
ment, and all Israel was looking forward to the promised event. It was 
therefore a matter of small surprise to Herod when word came to him 
that a Saviour had been born in Bethlehem who should become King 
of the Jews. But when he had definitely learned that this promised 
The heavenly King was the child of a lowly woman who, too poor to 
King born of a lay her head upon the couch of a sumptuous home, was 
lowly woman. f orce( j j- 0 see k shelter among the beasts of a manger, he 
gave no credit to the report, since all Israel had expected the Messiah 
to make His appearance clothed in a glory that would dazzle human 
eyes, and with a manifestation of power that would prove His heavenly 


His Lot was to Burn Incense When He went Into the Temple. 541 


descent. To nearly all Jewry the manner of Christ’s coming was a 
disappointment, which caused many to reject Him and led finally to His 
crucifixion, as will soon be told. 

There were a few persons, however, who, being 
blessed with the Divine favor, were foretold of the 
manner and time of Christ’s appearing, and these 
proclaimed that the coming of the fulfillment of 
the prophecies was at hand. The most favored 
servant of God was Zacharias, who was a priest 
in the Temple at Jerusalem. He was married to 
a woman named Elisabeth, who was extremely 
pious and devoted to good works, but had never 
borne any children, 011 which account she was held 
in small regard by the people, for among the Jews 
barrenness was regarded with reproach. 

At the time of which I write the twenty-four 
priests who administered in the Temple were re- 
quired to make their offerings as in the time 
of David, and on each day the service was 
changed, so that a different company of twenty, 
four priests went on duty every twelve hours. 

Their services consisted in trimming the lamps 
on the golden candlesticks, replenishing the sacred 
fires, and altar of incense, and offering up a lamb 
on the altar of burnt-offering. At three o’clock of 
each afternoon the people were summoned to 
prayer during the burning of incense and offer- 
ing of the lamb, but each priest had his special 
duty to perform, both in secret and before the 
people. 

One afternoon Zacharias went into the 

Holy Place to prepare the offering of burnt incense on the altar, 

and while engaged in this duty he beheld on a sudden the form 

of a radiant angel standing beside the altar as if to stay the 




( 542 ) 


THEY FOUND MARY, AND JOSHPH, AND THH BARF TRYING JN A MANGER, 






Many of the Children of Israel shall He Turn to the Lord . 543 

service. Zacharias, upon beholding so strange and beautiful a form, with 
hands stretched above the golden altar, was very much frightened, and would 
have hastened from the celestial presence had he not been restrained by a 
sweet voice that spoke, and declared to him that though he and his wife were 
old, yet Elisabeth should soon bear him a son, whose name would be John. 
Moreover, the angel said that this son would never pollute his. lips with 
strong drink, but that his conduct would ever be that of a pious person, in 
whom the spirit of God would be manifest from the day of his birth. This 
prophecy filled the heart of Zacharias with pleasure, but the Arl Angel 
angel had better news yet to tell for, continuing his speech, he appears to 
told the enraptured priest that John would proclaim to the Zachanas * 
people the time when the Saviour of the world should come, and that he 
would also preach repentance of sin and preparation for receiving the Lord. 
Although Zacharias was happy in hearing such a pleasing prophecy, yet he 
desired some sign of the fulfillment of what had been spoken, and there- 
fore asked that it might be given him to know how these things should 
come to pass. Perceiving his doubts the angel answered : “I am Gabriel, 
that stand in the presence of God ; and I am sent to speak unto thee, and to 
show thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and not 
able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because 
thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.” 

When the angel had thus spoken he disappeared, leaving Zacharias 
speechless, but glad in heart, for by this sign he perceived truly that what 
had been told him proceeded from God. When he came out of the Temple 
to the people who were waiting, he could only make them understand by 
signs what manner of vision he had beheld, and why he had been so long 
detained, for his tongue had become useless in his mouth. 

In less than six months after the annunciation to Zacharias, Gabriel 
became a second time the messenger of God, to proclaim a glorious birth, 
and accordingly he appeared before a young woman of Nazareth called Mary, 
a cousin to Elisabeth, who was espoused at the time to a poor carpenter 
named Joseph, who was a descendant of David, as was Mary also. When 
Mary beheld the angel Gabriel standing before her, she, like Zacharias had 
been, was much frightened, not understanding the import of the celestial 


544 


He Shall Reign Over the House of Jacob Forever. 

visitor, but she was speedily reassured by the angel, who spoke these joyful 
tidings : “ Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God, and behold, 
thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be 



— — " m 


SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRST BORN . . . AND LAID HIM IN A MANGER. — St. Luke, 2. 7. 


Great, and shall be called the son of the Highest, and of His kingdom there 
shall be no end.” 

Mary, however, was no less doubtful of the truth of Gabriel’s prophecy 
than Zacharias had been, and being anxious for some proof, inquired, “ How 


THE HOI.Y FAMILIES OF JESUS AND JOHN, 



35 


545 


546 


My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord. 



shall this be ? ” for she was not yet married. Whereupon the angel responded, 
“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall 
overshadow thee ; therefore, also, that holy thing which shall be borne of 
thee shall be called the Son of God.” He also told her how that Elisabeth 
should soon bear a son, notwithstanding her old age, which delighted 

Mary, and 
caused her to 
jpr desire greatly 
to see her 
cousin, to tel] 
what had been 
prop hesi e d 
and to learn 
if it were as 
the angel had 
told concern- 
ing her. Ac- 
cordingly, 
Mary left 
Nazareth and went quickly 
to a small town in Judah, 
near Jerusalem, where Elisa- 
beth was sojourning, to visit her 
cousin, with whom she remained 
nearly three months. It is left to 
us only to imagine how these two 
women, so highly favored of God, spent their time together, since unfor- 
tunately neither Matthew, Mark, Luke nor John left any description of the 
joy which must have been manifested every day by these blessed women, 
who were now experiencing the rapture which fills the mother’s heart with 
every pulsation of her first born, a hundred-fold intensified by the unutter- 
able joy which must have sprung from the glad promises of Gabriel. 

For reasons which the Bible does not give us to know, Mary returned 
to Nazareth before the birth of Elisabeth’s child, though the event must 


NEAR BETHEEHEM. 

Supposed site of the angels’ appearance to the shepherds. 


His Mouth was Opened Immediately and His Tongue Loosed . 547 


have been expected near the time of her departure. But we are told 
that upon Mary’s return the prophecy which the angel had made to her 
cousin was fulfilled, for Elisabeth bore a son, who, in accord- He shall be 
ance with the custom of the Jewish people of that time, was fi,,ed with lhe 
called Zacharias, after his father. The mother, however, H ° ly Ghost ’ 
insisted upon naming him John, which matter being thus brought into 
dispute, was determined by referring it to the priest-father. Zacharias 
was yet speechless, 
and had to make his 
desires known by 
signs, so in this way 
he called for writing 
materials, which being 
given him he wrote the 
name, John. Instantly 
the seal of his tongue 
was broken and he 
broke forth in praise- 
giving for the mercies 
and favors which God 
had bestowed upon 
him. The curious 
manner in which his 
speech was restored, 
no less than that by 
which he had been 
stricken dumb, awak- 
ened the keenest sur- 
prise of the people, 
who manifested their 
mysticism by inquir- 
ing, referring to the 
babe, “ What manner of child shall this be?” The question asked con- 
cerning the future of John was answered in due time. Of his childhood 



WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR, THEY REJOICED. 


548 


To Give Light to Them that Sit in Darkness . 


we know nothing except that he “ waxed strong in spirit,” by which we 
may infer that he was a very healthy, and possibly precocious child. As 
God appears to h e g re w to manhood’s estate he refused to be bound by the 
Jacob in a ordinary pursuits of his people, but retired to the desert 
dream. w h e re, after a period of contemplation and preparation, he 
began to preach as a forerunner of Christ that salvation was at hand. 



BETHLEHEM. 

Soon after Mary’s return to 
Nazareth, which was near the 
time when she was to be married 
— and no doubt this engagement 
was that which caused her to 
terminate her visit to Elisabeth 
at so critical and yet auspicious a time — Joseph discovered the evidences 
of maternity in his betrothed, and secretly sought a pretext to with- 
draw his vows without making public the cause. But God came to him 
in a dream and told how blessed among women Mary was, and that 
the child was conceived by the Holy Ghost while she was yet a virgin. 


All Went to be Taxed , Every One into His Oivn City . 


549 


So Joseph and Mary were married. A few months after the marriage 
of Joseph and Mary, at Nazareth, they were compelled to make a journey 
to Bethlehem, eighty miles distant, in obedience to the Roman law, which 
required every man to enroll his name in the city where his father had 



THE DREAM OF MARY. 


lived. This law was passed to enable the government at Rome to take a 
census of the male population of Palestine, so that in case of war it might 
be known how to make a levy of troops from that country. And ail went to 
Another purpose of this registration was to fix the taxing be taxed » to 

. 1 c his own city. 

of the nation, each man being required to make a return of 
his possessions; and hence it was that Joseph, who was of the house 
of David, was required to make the journey to Bethlehem. When the 
two reached their destination they found all the inns full, so that they 


550 She Brought Forth Her First Born Son. 



had to take shelter in a small private house, where the accommodations 
were meagre, but perhaps quite as good as either Joseph or Mary was 
used to, for they had always been extremely poor. How long the two 
remained in Bethlehem we do not know, but during their visit to the 
place Mary gave birth to the blessed Child to whom, as the angel had 
declared, was given the name JESUS, which signifies Saviour , and 
CHRIST, the Anointed. 

The small dwelling wherein 
they lodged afforded so little 
privacy or convenience that 
Mary laid her precious babe 
in a manger, which was 
doubtless connected with 
the family abode, as was 
customary among the peo- I 
pie of all that region of 1 
Judah. Tradition tells ns 
that this so-called manger 
was a cave scooped out 
of the limestone rock, a 
common thing about .|, 

Bethlehem. Beecher, in 
his “ Life of Christ,” 
says . such caves abound in the limestone rock of that region, and are 
used both for sheltering herds and sometimes for human residences. The 
The cave dwell- precipitous sides of the rocks are often pierced in such a 
mgs of way that a cottage built near might easily convert an ad- 

Paiestme. joining cave to the use of an out-building. “ Caves 
are not rare in Palestine, as with us. On the contrary, the whole land 
seems honeycombed with them. They are, and have been for ages, used 
for almost every purpose which architecture supplies in other lands — as 
dwellings for the living and sepulchres for the dead, as shelter for the 
household and for cattle and herds, as hidden retreats for robbers, and as 
defensive positions or rock castles for soldiers. Travelers make them 


CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION AT NAZARETH. 


Unto Yon is Born this Day , in the City of David, a Saviour. 55 1 



a refuge when no better inn is at hand. They are shaped into reservoirs 
for water, or, if dry, they are employed as granaries. The limestone of 
the region is so porous and soft that but little labor is required to enlarge, 
refashion, and adapt such caves to any desirable purpose.’’ 

In Thompson’s “ Land and the Book,” I find the following description 
of the cave-habitations about Bethlehem : “ It is common to find two sides 
of the one room, where the native farmer resides with his cattle, fitted up 
with these mangers, and the remainder elevated about two feet higher for the 

accommodation of the family. The mangers 
are built of small stones and mortar, in the 
shape of a box, or rather of a kneading- 
trough, and when cleaned up and white- 
washed, as they often are in summer, 
they do very well to lay little babes in. 
Indeed, our children have slept there in 
our rude summer retreats on the mount- 
ains.” 

In view 
of these 
facts we 
have no 
warrant for 
believing 
that Joseph 
and Mary 
were so dis- 
tressed b y 
poverty 
that they 
were forced 

to lay their babe in a manger given over entirely to the shelter of cattle, 
nor that the child Jesus was subjected to any greater hardship than was 
common to the peasant children of that region. Bethlehem, the place 
chosen by God for the nativity, as foretold by Micah, lies five miles 


THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE SHEPHERDS. 


552 


Ye shall Find the Babe Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes . 


south of Jerusalem, on a spur of the hills of Judah. To the east spreads 
a softly undulating plain upon which grass grows abundantly, and upon 
The most which, most probably, the shepherds were grazing their flocks 
famous district when apprised by the angels of the birth of Jesus. Small 
of Judah. as town was, it had long before been famous as the birth- 
place of David, and about the valleys and plains of which he had attended 
his father’s herds before being crowned king of Israel. About this sacred 

place also attaches a holy feeling, because 
it was here that Ruth gleaned and Boaz 



won her from 
unfeeling rel- 
atives for his wife. 

The date of Christ’s birth, 
though unimportant so far as 
it affects His mission or char- 
acter, has been the subject 
of much discussion among 

commentators for hundreds of years. “ In the primitive church,” as Dr. 
Schaff observes, “ there was no agreement as to the time of Christ’s birth. 


THERE CAME WISE MEN FROM THE EAST. 




They made Known Abroad the Sayings which was Told Them. 553 



In the Bast the sixth of January was the day observed for His baptism 
and birth. In the third century, as Clement of Alexandria relates, some 
regarded the twentieth of May, others the twentieth of April, as the date. 
Among modern chronologists, and biographers of Jesus, there is still great 
difference of opinion, and every month — even June and July (when the 
fields are parched from want of rain) has been named as the time when 

the great event took place. 

Lightfoot assigns the 
nativity to Septem- 
ber; Lardner and 
Newcomb to October; 
Wiseler to February ; 
Paulus to 


THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. 


“ He took the young child and his mother . . . and departed into Egypt.” 


March ; Greswell and Alfera to the fifth of April, just after the spring 
rains, when there is an abundance of pasture ; Lichenstein places it in July 
or December ; Strong in August ; Robinson in autumn ; Clinton in spring ; 
Andrews between the middle of December, 749, and the middle of January, 
750 (after the founding of Rome). On the other hand, Roman Catholic his- 
torians and biographers of Jesus, as Lepp, Friedlieb, Bucher, Patricius, and 
also some Protestant writers, defend the popular tradition — the twenty-fifth 


554 Glory to God in the Highest , and on Earth Peace. 

of December. Wordsworth gives up the problem, and thinks that the 
Holy Spirit has concealed the knowledge of the year and day of Christ’s 
birth and the duration of His ministry from the wise and prudent to teach 
them humility. 

Although born to the poorest and cradled in a manger, the glory of 
God shone round the Babe, while angels sped on swiftest wing to bear the 
glad tidings of Christ’s birth to the world. They did not go to kingly 
Annunciation halls, but visited the lowly shepherds minding their flocks 

of the in the still watches of the night on the plains where David 
shepherds. wa t c hed when he was called to be king of Israel, and to 
them declared the good tidings of great joy to all the people. How 
startled must have been the sleepy shepherds when, aroused from 
their half-watching, they perceived a light breaking through the 
darkness and heard angelic voices proclaiming, “ Glory to God 
in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.” Their fear 
soon subsided, however, when an angel told them that in Bethlehem had 
And io, the Angel that t> een born “ a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,” 

of the Lord came and that they might find him then wrapped in swaddling 
upon them. c ] 0 thes, lying in a manger. Convinced of the truth of what 
they had heard by the miraculous manner in which the news was given, 
the now thoroughly aroused and excited shepherds made haste to Bethle- 
hem, where they found the new-born Babe as had been declared, and 
immediately joined their praises to God for His mercies and the gift of a 
Redeemer. 

Since Christ was “ born of woman,” and “ under the law,” on the 
eighth day after His birth He was brought by His parents to the priest 
in Bethlehem for circumcision, and upon the performance of this 
ceremony He was given the name JESUS, as the Angel Gabriel had 
commanded. 

The Jewish law relating to births was not fully complied with by 
the observance of circumcision, for it was necessary for each mother to 
offer up a sacrifice at the expiration of her period of purification, which 
was at the end of forty days after the birth. According to this require- 
ment Mary and Joseph took the precious Babe to Jerusalem, and in the 


This Child is set for the Fall and Rising again of many in Israel. 555 

Temple there made their sacrifice of “ a pair of turtle doves,” which was 
the customary offering of the poor people. 

This first appearance of Jesus in the Temple was the signal for His 
reception by those who may be regarded as the representatives of the 
spiritual remnant of Israel. An aged man and woman had Then took Him 
long watched, with prophetic spirit, for the dawn of the Sun of up in his arms 
Righteousness. Simeon, who had been forewarned by the and b,essed God - 
Holy Spirit that he should not die till he had seen the “ Anointed of Jehovah,” 
was now guided by the same Spirit into the Temple ; and, taking the child in 
his arms, he proclaimed Him, for the first time, as the Christ of God, and 
declared that, for himself, the time was come to depart in peace, since his 
eyes had seen the Salvation of God, the Light of the Gentiles, and the 
Glory of Israel. But his prophecy was not ended; for, as Joseph and 
Mary wondered at his words, he announced the varied reception which 
Christ would meet with from His own people, the trial of the inmost 
hearts of men by His Spirit, and the sorrows which, in striking at Him, 
would smite through His mother’s heart — the primal curse and blessing 
on the woman. Simeon had scarcely ceased, when Anna, the daughter of 
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, entered the sacred court. This devout 
woman had emplo}^ed her widowhood of eighty-four years, Yca a sword 
after a marriage of only seven, in constant prayer and fast- shall pierce 
ing within the precincts of the Temple. She was a prophet- throu e h thine 
ess ; and in that character she now gave thanks to God for ° wn s ° u 
the advent of the Christ, and repeated her testimony to all that looked 
for redemption in Jerusalem. 

Though only forty days had expired since the birth of Jesus, yet the 
glad news had traveled on the wings of morning and night from one end 
of Palestine to another, and even to the far distant east, where a people 
lived who had never come in contact with the Jews, but who, learning 
that a Saviour of the world had been born, came to pay homage to Him 
who, it had been declared, should be “ King of kings.” Accordingly, there 
came “ wise men from the east,” who were doubtless magicians, as they 
were frequently called, and, being guided by a star, they journeyed to 


55 6 


Go and Search Diligently for the Young Child . 


Jerusalem, inquiring where the young Child, who was to be King of the 
Jews, was, that they might worship Him. 

Herod the Great, who was still living at this time, had no doubt 
heard the report, common throughout all Judea, that a Saviour had been 
Herod’s alarm born, but attributed the belief in such an event to the super- 
atthe stitious character of some of his subjects, and gave the matter 
Christ birth. no a ^ en ^ on until he learned that wise men from the east 
had come to Jerusalem in quest of that Saviour whom they called “ King 
of the Jews.” Upon 
learning that this 
wonderful babe 
should become 
king, he imme- 
diately conceived 
the idea that he 
himself was to be 
supplanted, and 
began to concert 
means to destroy 
the child. 

At this time 
Herod was unpopu- 
lar with the peo- 
ple, and had several 
times nearly lost 
his kingdom and 
his life through 
conspiracies head- 
ed by his own sons, 
as already de- 
scribed; besides 
these narrow es- 
capes, which constantly harassed his mind with dreadful forebodings, he 
was afflicted with a painful and incurable malady, which rendered him 



THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS. 


Herod , when He Saw that He was Mocked. 



Herod accordingly summoned the Sanhedrim, and from the sages of 
that body learned that the Redeemer should be born in Bethlehem, and 
that the time of His birth, as fixed by the prophets, was near at hand. 


557 

more susceptible to the evil reports and the more ready to believe that 
ever^ public lumor affecting his government was the result of some con- 
spiracy to wrest the sceptre from him. 


THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 


558 The Star which They Saw in the East went Before Them. 

He thereupon called the Magians, and requested them to proceed in 
search of the new-born King, and when they should find Him to come 
and tell him, that he might worship Him also. Who these wise men, or 
Magians, w T ere it is even difficult to conjecture. Tradition still preserved 
Go and search among the Jews represents them as three astrologers, named 
diligently for the Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar, from Assyria, whose skulls 
young child. are preserved and shown in a shrine at Cologne. This tradi- 
tion is, of course, unreliable, and has no basis of truth to rest upon. Of one 
fact only are we assured, that whether kings, astrologers, or “ wise men,” 



HE TOOK THE YOUNG CHILD AND HIS MOTHER BY NIGHT AND DEPARTED INTO EGYPT. 


they were unquestionably persons of great wealth and much learning, 
proved by the gifts they brought to the child, “ gold, frankincense and 
myrrh,” which were the offerings customary to be made by subject nations 
to their kings or conquerors. 

When the “ wise men ” went on their way again from Jerusalem, 
they beheld a great star brightly shining, by which they were guided to 
Bethlehem until it stood still over the young child, and thus discovered 
Him to them. When they had presented their treasures and paid due 


Rache l Weeping for Her Children . 


559 


homage to the child Christ, they would no doubt have returned to Jerusalem 
to inform Herod of the place where Jesus was, but were forewarned by 
God in a dream not to go to the king, but to return to their country by 
another way, which they accordingly did. When Herod learned that the 
“wise men ” had departed from his realm without obeying his injunction, 
his fears were the more excited, and he resolved upon a most horrible 
measure to accomplish the destruction of Jesus, whom he now Rama ther c 
regarded as the successor to his kingdom if permitted to live. was a voice, 
Having caused the murder of his wife and sons, out of suspicion lamentation and 
that they had conspired to dethrone him, he was not likely wce P m e* 
to stop short of any crime that promised to relieve his mind of the fears 


THEN HEROD . . . SENT FORTH, AND SLEW ALL THE CHILDREN THAT WERE IN BETHLEHEM. 

excited by the report that a new king of the Jews had been born, and 
accordingly he issued an order for the extermination of every male child 
under two years of age within Bethlehem and adjoining districts. In 
pursuance of this dreadful edict several hundred innocent babes were foully 
murdered and the whole land thrown into mourning. In this terrible scene 



560 An Angel of the Lord Appeareth in a Dream to Joseph. 



the Jews saw a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of Rachael, whose tomb, 
was near Bethlehem, weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, 
because they were not. 

How vain of man to suppose that he can set aside God’s will and 
compass his own desires in opposition to that of his Creator. In this Herod 
was more than vain and foolish, and by his wickedness only hastened his 
own miserable end. God knowing the heart of Herod, sent an angel to 
Joseph directing him to take Jesus and Mary and 
flee into Egypt, and there remain until the 
death of Herod, and until he could return 
with the Child to his own country without 
fear. Thus did Jesus escape, through 
God’s intercession, the terrible slaugh- 
ter of infants. 

But Herod’s end was near, and in 
the same year, and almost directly 
after the Feast of the Passover, he 
rendered up his crime-laden life and 
went thither to answer for his iniqui- 
ties. Immediately after, an angel 
again appeared to Joseph in a dream, 
and bade him return to Palestine. 
While on the journey to Bethlehem, 
however, Joseph learned that the son 
of Herod, Archelaus, had ascended 
the throne, and that this new king 
was no better than his father, who, 
to perpetuate his power, would likely 
murder Jesus if he should discover 

JOSEPH AND THE CHII^D JESUS. ,1 T V r , 1 

the Child. Joseph, therefore, turned 
aside from Galilee and went to Nazareth, the former home of Mary, which lay 
sixty-five miles north of Jerusalem. Here Jesus lived with his father in 
obscurity, so far as history gives us to know, until He was twelve years of 
age. We are told that “ the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with 


thky found him in the tempee, sitting in the midst of the doctors 




562 All that Heard Him were Astonished at His Understanding . 

wisdom : and the grace of God was upon Him.” It is clear from the next event 
recorded in His history, that these words imply not only a growth in moral 
and spiritual excellence, but a conscious preparation for His ministry by 
communion with His divine Father and by diligent study of the Scriptures. 
His public ministry did not begin with a sudden impulse, but was prepared 
for by His whole life. The consciousness of His divine nature and power 
grew and ripened and strengthened until the time of H^s showing unto 
Israel. The very silence of the evangelists, however, leads to some important 
inferences respecting our Saviour’s training in boyhood and in youth. As 
Neander has observed: “ His education for a teacher was not 

And the child 

grew, and due to an y °f the theological schools then existing in Judea; 
waxed strong and thus was He the better prepared to stand forth, in perfect 
in spirit. independence, as the antagonist and rebuker alike of the dead 
ritualism and hypocritical casuistry of the Pharisees and Scribes, and the 
negative coldness of the Sadducees. And while the rigid purity which 
He taught might suggest something of an outward resemblance to the 
Essenes, He had no real connection with that ascetic body, to deaden His 
sympathies with humanity at large. Herein was the contrast with His 
forerunner, which He himself traces : “ John came neither eating nor drink- 
ing : the Son of Man came eating and drinking.” 

Ever since the captivity, the great festivals, like other institutions of 
the law, had been observed with regularity, and even the women went up to 
Jerusalem once a year to keep the Passover. Such was the custom of 
our Saviour’s parents, and when He reached the age of twelve, He accom- 
panied them to the feast. When Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem He 
remained behind, His absence being only discovered after the caravan had 
And ail that gone a day’s journey. His sorrowing parents found Him in 
heard Him were the Temple, the centre of a circle of the professed teachers 
astonished. 0 f ^hc law, astonishing all who heard Him, both by His 
replies to them and by His own questions. There is nothing here to 
imply a contentious spirit ; but in the sincere effort to obtain instruction, 
He could not but show the fruits of His profound study of the Scrip- 
tures, and the power of the Spirit that had “filled Him with wisdom.” 
This “ spiritual discernment,” by which He opened the true meaning of 


Jesus Increased in Wisdom and Stature. 


563 



NAZARETH, FROM THE CHURCH OF THE 
ANNUNCIATION. 


God’s Word, wa^ the ‘‘understanding” which astonished the “natural 
men,” who had long been bound down to the mere letter. 

Though the town of Nazareth was a small place, it afforded Jesus 
opportunities for studying the Scriptures free from the bias and precon- 
ceived opinions of the teachers of 
Jerusalem. It was here that He not 
only studied the Scriptures, but 
Jgk studied human nature as well. 

j A 


Nazareth was, though only a 
village, a place whose chief 
reputation was the disrepute 
in which its people were held. 
This is proved by the inquiry 
? ' of Nathaniel, of Cana, a place near 
by, “ Can any good thing come out 
of Nazareth?” The proof of Naza- 
reth’s wickedness is further increased 
by the manner in which Christ was received when He first preached 
there, for we are told that when He discoursed to the people plainly of 
their misdoings they offered Him personal violence. 

There were some things, however, about Nazareth, that were favorable 
to the acquisition, by Jesus, of those principles which, unknown to the 
Jewish priests, became to Him so serviceable in the propa- The refore was 
gation of His teaching. These favorable conditions arose He called a 
from the natural beauties of the place, which seem to have Nazarene. 
brought His mind into a more perfect accord with God, even if we choose 
to regard Jesus, at the time, as a person with no more of the Divine 
attributes than His fellows possessed. Of the exquisite beauty of Nazareth 
and the surrounding district the Rev. Dr. Stanley, a missionary to 
Palestine, writes: “Fifteen gentle rounded hills seem as if they had met 
to form an enclosure for this beautiful basin. They rise around it like 
the edge of a shell, to guard it from intrusion. It is a rich and beautiful 
field in the midst of these green hills, abounding in gay flowers, in fig- 
trees, small gardens and hedges of the prickly pear.” 


564 He Went Down with Them , and Came to Nazareth . 

The town is built, not upon the apex of a hill, but rather upon the 
side which slopes westerly toward the basin. From this hill a view is 
had unequaled in all Palestine; not even from Mount Tabor is such a 
grand sight afforded, for we may here behold almost the whole of Galilee, 
the northern portion of which is covered with snow lying on the high 
mountains and reflecting back the sun’s rays like peaks of silver, while 
away to the west and southwest sweeps the Mediterranean in full view. 
But nobler still is the plain of Esdraelon (which takes its name from 
Jezreel), which stretches its length fifteen miles from the valley at the 
base of Nazareth. Beautiful as the scenery is, it is the historical events 
associated with each hill and plain of the vicinity that give to the place 
its chiefest charm. On the plains of Jezreel rushed the tide of battle in 
the patriarchal age. Here the hosts of Midianites, Amalekites, Syrians, 
and Philistines went forth to battle against Judah and made it the battle- 
field of ages. Is it a matter of wonder, therefore, that, with a mind so 
receptive as Christ’s must have been, He drank so deeply from the cup 
of nature ; that He was so familiar with the history of His people and 
with the law, or that He thrived upon the inspiration which placed Him 
in communion with God ? 

But of the boyhood of Jesus we know nothing beyond the fact that 
he was a carpenter’s son, who doubtless helped His father, after the 
manner of Jewish sons who were brought up to learn a trade. 

The Boyhood T , . , . 

of jesus We ma y P lcture him m our minds as doing wonders m His 
infancy, and of being radiantly beautiful as well as divinely 
good, but we must trust entirely to our imagination, for on these matters 
the Gospels are silent. So, after we find Him at the age of twelve years, 
sitting in the midst of the doctors and disputing with them, history affords 
no other glimpse of Him for a period of eighteen years, when, now thirty 
years of age, He sets out upon His ministry. All that is said of Him, 
to cover this long interval, is contained in the Gospel of St. Luke, who 
writes that while Jesus was conversing with the doctors His mother 
came to seek Him, saying: “Son, why hast Thou ‘thus dealt with us? 
behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.” 

And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye 


565 


The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness . 

not that I must be about My Father’s business ? And they understood 
not the saying which He spoke unto them. And He went down with 
them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but His mother 
kept all those things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and 
stature and in favor with God and Man.” 



BEHOLD, THY FATHER AND I HAVE SOUGHT THEE SORROWING. 


The Gospels are quite as reticent concerning the boyhood of John 
as they are of Jesus. We are merely told of the manner of John’s 
birth, and the prophecy of what he should do as the fore- 
runner of the Saviour, and that at an early age he retired unto aifthT 
into the wilderness about Engedi. It was common in those countr y about 

Jordan. 

days, and even later, for those who desired to prepare them- 
selves for a religious life, to withdraw for a time into the desert and 
there live in strict seclusion from the world, in meditation upon the 
goodness and nature of God. And this is what John did for a period of 
perhaps fifteen or more years. During this time he subsisted upon the 
wild honey that he found stored by bees in the rocks and dwarfed trees 


5 66 


Repent Ye and Believe the Gospel. 



of the wilderness, and upon the locusts, or grasshoppers, which abounded 
in that region. 

At the withdrawal of John from a life of seclusion he found a sorry 
condition of affairs in Judah. The Jews had no longer any voice in the 
government, being now ruled by a Roman procurator named Pontius 
Pilate, under the prefect of Syria. The people were bitterly oppressed by 
publicans, who were collectors of the revenue, and who placed the most 
burdensome exactions upon the Jews, amounting almost to a confiscation 
of their possessions. These levies were not paid without much complaint, 
and the murmurs of rebellion became audible, which at length gave rise 
to an organization under Judas for actively opposing the payment of 
further tribute to Augustus Caesar, who was now Emperor of Rome. 

Besides the dissatisfaction, well founded, which the Jews felt at the 
Oppressions burdens laid upon them by Rome, they were torn by dis- 
laid upon sensions among themselves, produced, however, by Roman 
the jews. interference with the priesthood, which was frequently changed 
to prevent a consolidation of the Jews, whose tribal relations were thus 
made to change with each change of the priesthood. 



The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. 


567 


It was while these dissensions and conspiracies were most threatening 
that the Spirit of God called John from his seclusion and sent him 
through Judea to preach the coming of Christ. Though making no claim 
to the possession of miraculous powers, he assumed the garb of a prophet 
— *“a raiment of camel’s hair and a girdle about his loins” — and in other 
respects, as well as by his preaching, he seems to have sought to imitate 
Elijah. His first declaration to the people, who were expecting a fore- 
runner of the Messiah, according to the prophecies of Isaiah, was to 
disguise his personality — “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness; 
‘ Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as saith the prophet Esaias.” Even 
Jesus seems to have sought to confirm the impression of the identity of 
the two, for while addressing the people on one occasion, referring to John, 
He said: “If ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” 
Here Elijah is called Elias, the name having been changed in the 
Septuagint version, and by this declaration there were many 
who were made to believe that John was the re-incarnated 
Elijah, whose coming had long been looked forward to. His 
preaching, therefore, became as St. Mark declares, “the be- 
ginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” 
tvi^y John’s appearance and manner of addressing the people 

immediately gained for him a very large following. Multi- 
Ap\& tu< ^ es flocked to hear him from all parts of Judea, where 
his fame had spread. Besides preaching the doctrine of 
repentance, he instituted the ceremony of baptism 
as an outward sign of the beginning of a new life. 
Specifically, he besought the publicans to practice 
honesty and generosity, and the selfish he exhorted 
to share their abundance with the poor. The 
soldiers, too, were advised to guard the rights of 
all, and to have regard for the lowly who were 
suffering from oppressions. The Pharisees and 
Sadducees, who set themselves up as examples of 
that righteousness inherited from Abraham, were 
roundly denounced as “a generation of 




5 68 


I Have Need to be Baptized of Thee. 



vipers,” and were warned that God could raise up true children to 
Abraham from the very stones of the desert. More than this, he declared 
the two sects no better than barren trees, fit only to be cut down and 
cast into the fire, and that they would be thus dealt with unless they 
“ brought forth fruit meet for repentance,” before the coming of the Messiah. 

To these exhortations the two stubborn sects gave little heed, but the 
publicans and mass of the people accepted the warnings of John and came 
to him in great numbers to be baptized, by which ceremony they made a 
public acknowledg- ment of their sins and in reu 
sought to establish a 
he preach and baptize 
Jesus, hav- 
ing attained 
the Leviti- 
cal age of 
thirty years 
and thus 
become eli- 
gible to the 
p r i e s 1 1 y 
ministry, 

came out of His retirement to be himself baptized. 

When Jesus requested John to administer to 
Him the rite of Baptism, the latter opposed the wish by saying: “I have need 
to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?” But to this Christ 
Jesus when He re P lied : “Suffer it now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all 
was baptized righteousness.” The answer carries with it a satisfactory 
went up out of explanation of the need of such an initiatory rite, which 
was given as a sign to the people that those who truly 
repented of their sins should give some public proof that would partake of 
the nature of an obligation. Christ, though a man without sin, and 
therefore having no need for the rite, so far as it affected His 
character or conscience, desired baptism in order that He might 
fulfill all the conditions common to man. Having been born in the flesh, 


Jesus also being Baptized , and Praying , Heaven Opened. 569 

he was made subject to all the natural laws, and He felt it to be as much 
His duty to “ condemn sin in the flesh,” by renouncing it through the 
water of baptism, as by expiating it by His blood upon the cross ; and so He 
set the example of entrance into His kingdom by the path of meek repent- 
ance, and of solemn obligation to a holy life. His conscience, free from 
all sense of guilt, must have felt it hard to descend into the water ; but this 
first suffering had its reward in the glory that at once followed. 

This first act of submission to His Father’s will called forth the 
earliest public tokens of His Father’s acceptance of the Manifestation 
sacrifice and approving love toward Himself. As He stepped of the heavenly 
past the water’s edge, He knelt down to pray, devoting His blessing, 
whole being to the work to which He had been consecrated by 
His baptism. At that moment a double sign was vouchsafed from heaven 
to the eyes and ears of the multitude, among whom Jesus had hitherto 
appeared as one of themselves. The sky was seen to open, and the Spirit 
of God descended upon Him in bodily shape, like a dove, and a voice was 
heard from heaven saying, “ Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased.” The former act was another baptism, which exceeded the com- 
mission of John, endowing Jesus with the power of God, and was given to 
Him to be conferred in turn upon His disciples. 

By this baptism Jesus was lifted above the conditions to which mankind 
are subject, and he immediately enters a new sphere, where the divine 
attributes begin to appear. Henceforth He becomes a teacher, and in His 
walks now displays the Divine presence. It is upon the banks of the 
Jordan, on that blessed day when, as a man, Jesus underwent the rite of 
baptism, that He emerged from the waves The Christ, to declare a new 
dispensation. 

Christ did not at once proceed upon His mission to redeem the world, 
but was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for a period of forty 
days He fasted, and was no doubt in communion with God. Was it an 
ordeal of suffering that He was compelled to undergo as a trial of faith ? 
Impossible, for He was without sin, and of the Godhead. This retirement 
of forty days is identical with that of Moses upon Sinai, and of Elijah at 
Horeb, and was a withdrawal from man into the presence of God, which 


57 ° 


Being Forty Days Tempted of the Devil. 



Christ did not onty at the beginning of His ministry, but also at the 
conclusion, when He retired to the soltitude of the garden at Gethsemane, 
and poured out His great soul to the heavenly Father. After the period of 
forty days was past Christ became hungry, when the Devil came to tempt 
Him to make a display of the power that had been given Him, possibly 
to discover what power had been bestowed. Accordingly, vSatan said to 
Him : “ If Thou be the Son L* of God, command that these stones be 

made bread.” But Jesus perceived 
wherein the temptation lay 
and wisely answered, “ Man 
shall not live by bread 
alone.” 

This request made 
of Jesus by the Devil 
reminds us at once of 
the temptations which 
so often overcame the 
children of Israel in 
their journey out 
of Egypt, and 
leads us to sus- 
pect that Satan 
remembered the 
weaknesses of the 
Jews whenever as- 
sailed by tribula- 
tion, and believed 
that Jesus would 
as easily suc- 
cumb to temptation. Though disappointed in his first effort, Satan was 
not discouraged in his belief that he might yet humble Christ, so 
taking Him up to a pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem, said : u If Thou be 
the Son of God, cast Thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His 
angels charge concerning Thee : and in their hands they shall bear Thee 


GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN. 


All this Power will I Give Thee , and the Glory of Them . 571 



up.” But to this Jesus answered: “It is written again, Thou shalt 
not tempt the Lord thy God.” But the Devil would try once more to 
convict Christ of worldly aspirations, by appealing to His Thou shalt not 
ambition and vanity, so he took him to the summit of a tempt the Lord 
high mountain, possibly the peak of Quarantania, where thy God ' 
numerous wild beasts made their lairs, as they do to this day, and 
from this lofty eminence showed Him all 
the kingdoms of the 
world, and the glory of 
them, all of which he 
promised to give Jesus 
if He would fall 
down and worship 
him. But again 
triumphant over this 
last and most potent tempta- 
tion in seducing human na- 
ture, Christ answers : “ Get 
thee hence, Satan, for it is 
written, Thou shalt worship 
the Lord thy God, and Him 
only shalt thou serve.” Van- 
quished by the invincible faith 
of Jesus, Satan left Him, where- 
upon angels descended and 
ministered to the Holy One, 
who now entered upon the 
mission which He was sent to perform. 

During the time of Christ’s disap- 
pearance in the wilderness, John con- 
tinued to preach as before, of the Mes- betheehem, with convent in front. 
siah, who was now come, until the rulers 

of Jerusalem, having heard of the wonders manifested at the baptism 
of Jesus, sent priests to make inquiries of John concerning Him. 


57 2 The two Disciples Heard Him Speak , and they Followed Jesus. 



These Levites accordingly came to John and asked, u Art thou the Christ ?” 
u Art thou Elias ?” “ Art thou the prophet ?” To all of which John 
replied that one greater than himself had come, “ the latchet of whose 
shoes I am not worthy to unloose,” who would baptize with fire. While 
John was thus making answer to those who questioned him, from day to 
day, Jesus reappeared among the multitude, whereupon, in a burst of joyful 
enthusiasm, John exclaimed, “ Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 

the sins of the 
world.” He also 
repeated to the 
people how it had 
been manifested 
at His baptism 
that Jesus was 
the Christ. 

On the fol- 
lowing day, as 
John was stand- 
ing with two of 
his friends, or 

disciples, Jesus passed by, and John again exclaimed, as before, “ Behold the 
Lamb of God.” These two believed on the Lord and immediately followed 
Him and became His disciples, being the first conversions to Christ. On 
the same day Simon, the brother of Andrew, was called, to whom Jesus 
gave the name of Cephas, meaning a stone . One day later, Philip, from 
From that time Bethsaida, which was the dwelling place of Andrew and Peter, 
jesus began became also a disciple of Jesus, and these induced Nathanael, 
to preach. Q f v i c j n ity G f Nazareth, to come and see Jesus. Nathanael 
was doubtful of the things that had been told him, but upon coming into 
the presence of Jesus he was convinced, by the Lord telling him that 
“ before Philip called, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.” 
Nathanael was thus made to believe, because he knew that, being at the 
time a remote distance from Jesus, He could only know of the circumstances 
of the call by the Divine power that had been given Him. Perceiving him 


THE SEA FROM TIBERIAS. 


BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. 


( 573 ) 



574 This Beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana. 

thus easily convinced, Jesus said to him, “ Because I said unto thee, 1 1 saw 
thee under the fig-tree ’ believest thou ? Thou shalt see greater things than 
these.” 

On the third day after Jesus had returned from the wilderness there 
was a marriage in Cana, a small town of Galilee, to which He and His 
four disciples and also His mother were invited. Those who were to be 
joined in wedlock were evidently very poor, and unable to provide such 
a feast as was commonly spread at celebrations of this kind in Judea. 
This beginning Wine was regarded as an almost indispensable adjunct of 
of miracles did such an event, and it was therefore a natural thing for the 
Jesus m Cana. g Uests ^ w h 0 doubtless were not entirely acquainted with the 
poverty of the biide’s friends, to call for wine with which to drink the 
health of the bride and groom. To this request Mary replied, addressing 
Jesus, that no wine had been provided, but turning to the servants she 
bade them do whatsoever her Son wished. In obedience to His command, 
the servants brought six earthen water-pots, which would hold about 
twenty gallons each, and these they filled with water to the brim. When 
this was done Jesus bade them to draw measures thereof and bear them 
to the governor of the feast. When the governor had tasted of the liquid 
that was thus brought, he found it to be such excellent wine that he 
called the bridegroom and said : u Every man at the beginning doth set 
forth good wine ; and when men have well drunk then that which is 
worse ; but thou hast kept the good wine until now,” but he did not 
know that the good wine which had been given himself and the guests 
to drink, had, only a few minutes before, been pure water. But the dis- 
ciples, and servants also, knew that a miracle had been performed, and 
were thus made to believe the stronger in Him. After this Christ went 
down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers, followed also b}f the 
disciples, who remained there with Him for a few days. 


CHAPTER II. 



FTER Jesus had tarried at Capernaum a short while, 
l performing his goodly works and teaching the peo- 

v pie, the Feast of the Passover drew near, where, as a 

Jew, fulfilling the law, He went down to Jerusalem 
l with His disciples to assist in the celebration. Here 
it was that His public ministry was to begin, accord- 
ing to the prophecy, “ Jehovah, whom ye seek, shall 


And Jesus went about Teaching and Healing all Manner 
of Disease. 


suddenly come to His Temple.” 

The Passover was a great event in Jerusalem, attended, as it was, by 
not only the people of Judea, but by those from the countries of the 
dispersion— Egypt, Syria, Rome, etc., as well. How, or in Multitudes at 
what manner, Christ came to Jerusalem to celebrate the the feast of the 
Passover we are not told, but it is evident that His appear- Passover, 
ance there was as a teacher, and one having much authority. We may 
therefore conceive how great He had grown in public estimation since the 
day of His baptism, when a dove flew out of the heavens and lighted on 
Him like a benediction, while a still voice, like the lips of a breeze, 
proclaimed Him the Holy Son. 

We can imagine how Jerusalem appeared on the solemn feast day 
of the Passover. Large as was the city, it could not accommodate a tithe 
of the worshipers. Josephus tells us that in the year A. D. 65 there 
were three million Jews in attendance at the feast. Possibly this enormous 
number was exceeded by those who came in the time of our Lord, before 
so many Jews had drifted to other parts of the world. Jerusalem was, 
therefore, not only filled with participants in the ceremonies of the feast, 
but the adjacent hills and fields must have shone white with tents, like 
a great army in camp. 


(575) 


576 My House Shall be Called of all Nations the House of Prayer. 

But above, and sublimely conspicuous among all this immense gather- 
ing, was the one greatest spectacle in all Jerusalem, the Temple on Mount 
Moriah, that looked down from its lofty eminence upon the vast crowds 
that flocked to offer service there. Here was the holy shrine of David ; 
rebuilt by the profane hand of Herod, it is true, but still preserving in 
its material, no less than its spiritual aspect, the holiest traditions of the 
race. 

As the Temple was the shrine of worship, circumstances made of it 
a place of barter ; for, as thousands came without bringing with them 
He found in the appropriate offerings, shrewd votaries, peering beyond the 
Temple those glamour of devout service, discovered their opportunity of 
that sold oxen. a( j^j n g WO rldly possessions to their spiritual needs by offer- 
ing for sale oxen, sheep and doves to those who desired to purchase such 
subjects for sacrifice. Such trading was at first conducted in the outer 
courts of the Temple, but as competition increased these merchants grad- 
ually intruded upon the space within the sacred edifice until they fairly 
took possession. From dealing in offerings for sacrifice it was but a step 
to further profanation. The people from abroad came here to pay the 
Temple tax, and as the foreign coins which they brought were not current 
in Jerusalem, brokers set up their places to exchange shekels of the 
sanctuary for such foreign money. Thus the Temple had become a 
great exchange bazaar, the profits of which were, no doubt, shared with the 
priests. 

On the first day of the Passover, when the bustle of preparation 
had given place to active trade, and the Temple and its courts contained 
Manifestation a niedley of lowing herds, cooing doves, bleating sheep, and 
of his Divine above all, the voices of inviting brokers, came Jesus to the 
authority. pl ace to perform His vows and to teach the people. In 
a moment, as He perceived the desecration and vile uses to which the 
Temple had been put, His brow beetled with indignation, and seizing a 
whip of small cords, possibly used by a driver of cattle, He plied it 
vigorously upon the desecrators until they fled from His scourgings ; the 
brokers’ tables were then overthrown, the money scattered over the marble 
pavements, and the place speedily cleansed of the unclean things which 


577 



By what Authority Doest Thou these Things ? . 

defiled it. As the avaricious hucksters made good their retreat Christ 
called to them in these words: “Take these things hence! Make not 
My Father’s house an house of merchandise ! ” 

The superiority of Jesus was manifested over the priests of the 
Temple by the fact that no one offered to interfere with Him, though in 
thus harshly driving out the merchants He revoked, arbitrarily, a privi- 
lege which had evidently been granted by those having authority. 
Instead of His action exciting 
anger, it appears to have 
raised expectancy among 
the Jews who had 
already heard, but 
probably received the 
rumor as an idle tale, 
that Jesus was the 
Messiah. They 
therefore said to Him: 

“What sign showest 
Thou unto us, see- j 
ing Thou doest such 
things?” Which 
question bore the 
same meaning as 
that afterward ad- \ 
dressed to Him : “ If 
Thou be the Christ, 
tell us plainly.” But 
to this He only and J OHN camming UNTO HIM two of his disciples sent 

3 THEM TO JESUS. 

replied : “ Destroy 

this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Not under- 
standing that He spoke with a hidden meaning, and that He referred 
to the temple of His body, in their astonishment they said : “ Forty 
and six years was this Temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up 
in three days ? ” Though Jesus gave His questioners no satisfaction, 


57S We Knoiv that Thou art a Teacher come from God. 

and withheld from them an acknowledgment of His Messiahship, 
yet the manner of His speech, while it puzzled the priests, seemed to 
have served an excellent purpose, for the cunning of His words impressed 
both priests and people with the superior wisdom which He possessed., 
Crowds besieged Him to hear Him preach, and thousands became at 
once converted. But this conversion was chiefly among the common 
people, the priests appearing outwardly as if convinced of the great truths 
which He declared, but secretly they held Him in contempt. 

There was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, named Nicodemus, who 
was more affected by Christ’s teaching than either the priests or people, 
but understanding the ill favor with which He was regarded 
How can a man ^ those high in authority, was restrained from making 

be born when 

he is old. an open confession of his faith lest he should be made 
the object of scoffing. Revolving the matter in his mind 
for several days, he at length went to see Jesus in the night, when none 
that knew him might discover his visit, and hailing Christ as “ Master,” 
said : “ We know that Thou art a teacher come from God : for no man 
can do these miracles that Thou dost except God be with him.” To this 
Jesus replied in language disguising His true meaning, as He had 
answered the others : “ Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born 
again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus thereupon asked 
an explanation of what had been spoken, confessing that he knew not 
how a man could be born again when he is old. Perceiving that the 
heart of His questioner was inclined to an acceptance of His mission as 
it had been declared by John, Jesus told him that unless a man be born 
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, 
and therefore made plain to Nicodemus that it was the spiritual second 
birth which was essential to salvation. But this consolation was not all 
that Jesus gave to Nicodemus, for to this humble ruler was first declared 
what sacrifice was to be made to save the world, in the following glowing 
and glorious promise : 

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the 
Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not 
perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave 


Marvel Not that / said unto Thee , Ye must be Born again. 


579 


His only begotten Sou, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 
but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to 
condemn the world ; but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

To Nicodemus, therefore, Christ vouchsafed the first confession of 
His real mission, and the bitter sacrifice which was to be made as an 
atonement for the sins of all mankind. The impression p rop hesy of 
made upon Nicodemus by the speech of Jesus was both the vicarious 
profound and exalting, though he is only mentioned three sacr,fice - 



AN OLD MOSQUE IN TIBERIAS. 


demus afterward. On the other hand, when the end of Christ’s ministry was 
near, and enemies sought His life, in the supreme hour of His humiliation 
Nicodemus arose, solitary and alone, as a member of the Sanhedrim, and 
'amid the clamors of his compeers, who, having prejudged the Lord, were 
only awaiting his arrest to pronounce sentence, confronted them with a ques- 
tion which brought the blush of shame to their cheeks as judges: “Doth 
our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” 

But yet again came Nicodemus, to manifest his love and faith in 
Jesus, when, after the crucifixion, the disciples were confounded and were 



580 He Came Therefore and Took the Body of fesus. 

afraid to acknowledge that they were followers of Him who had been 
condemned; when the mere suspicion of sympathy for Christ was sufficient 
to bring a man to judgment, Nicodemus showed his fearlessness, and 
reverence for his dead Lord, “And there came also Nicodemus (which at 
the first came to Jesus by night), and brought a mixture of myrrh and 
aloes, about an hundred pound weight, with which to anoint the precious 


JERUSALEM. 

body.” Timid in the beginning, in the end he showed a courage greater 
than that manifested by any of the disciples. 

How long Jesus remained in Jerusalem we know not, but perhaps for 
only a few days, or weeks at most. He found a strong prejudice prevailing 
against Him there, chiefly because He had not been brought up in the 


He that Cometh from Heaven is Above All. 


581 


synagogue and instructed in the law, and therefore, the priests were jealous 
because He received more attention from the people than they. Another 
cause of their ill-favor is found in the self-holiness which they, as Pharisees, 
arrogated to themselves, and their condemnation of any one who pretended 
to as many virtues, or attempted to declare a better doctrine. Hc that doeth 

These influences decided Jesus to withdraw from Jerusalem truth cometh 

to the country districts in Judea, where He began to the light, 
preaching and baptizing the people — though the actual administration 
of this rite was performed by his disciples. John was at the time 
preaching at Enon, and baptizing His converts in the small streams near 
that place, while Jesus confined His work to the banks of the Jordan, 
where there came to Him great gatherings of people and hundreds were 
baptized daily. So numerous were His converts that some of those who 
made confession under John began to inquire why Jesus should meet with 
the greater success, and thus a spirit of rivalry was apparently about to 
spring up. John, however, though assailed by a temptation which few 
could resist, took occasion to bear a final testimony to Christ, no less 
remarkable for explicit statement of the Gospel than for its profound 
humility and self-renunciation. Reminding both parties to the controversy 
that he had always insisted on the superiority of Christ to himself, as 
being the very purpose of his mission, he marks this as the divinely 
appointed order: — “ He 7nnst increase, I must decrease.” And to this law 
he not merely submits, but derives from it unbounded satisfaction. Liken- 
ing himself to the bridegroom’s friend at a wedding, rejoicing at the 
bridegroom’s voice, while Christ rejoiced over His pure spouse, 
the Church, about to be redeemed, he declares, “This my joy 
therefore is fulfilled.” Though himself destined to remain 
outside of the Christian Church, he concludes his testimony by pointing 
his disciples and all his hearers to the way within it. 

To avoid any appearance of rivalry, John left the vicinity of Enon 
and advanced northward into Galilee, where he continued to preach to 
immense crowds, and where his influence became so great that Herod 
Antipas, who was now ruler of Judea, went out to hear him. Herod 
had married Herodias, the self-divorced wife of his half-brother Philip, 


He went and Beheaded Him in Prison. 


582 



against which act there had been com- 
plaint by the people, that was silenced' 
only by the threats of Herod. But 
John was not a man to be easily 
intimidated, and in an impetuous, fiery 
manner which was so characteristic of 
him, he preached against the unlawful 
marriage of Herod, and to his face declared, u It is not 
lawful for thee to have her.” This speech, so well 
calculated to inflame the people, who were now laboring 
under intense religious enthusiasm, not only angered 
Herod, but impassioned Herodias the more, and at her 
instigation John was seized and cast into prison at Peraea. 
His execution would no doubt have followed at once but 
for the fear which Herod had of the people, who had 
accepted John as the forerunner of Christ, and hailed 
him as the reincarnated Elijah. Perhaps Herod himself 
f? was also impressed with the true prophetic nature of 
John, as his conscience is said to have troubled him, 
and this fact increased his reluctance to punish with 
death a prophet who had declared what he knew to be 
true, and what God had, perhaps, prompted him to pronounce. John 
therefore remained in prison several months, an object of Herodias’ hatred, 
and of the Pharisees’ jealousy. 

More than once this wicked woman was baffled in her designs upon 
John’s life, but at length an occasion arose which gave her opportunity 
to satisfy the bitter resentment which she felt. A court 
festival was kept at Machserus in honor of the king’s birth- 
day. After supper the daughter of Herodias came in and 
danced before the company, and so charmed was the tetrarch 
by her grace, that he promised with an oath that he would 
give her whatever she should ask. Salome, prompted by her dissolute 
mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. The promise had been 
given in the hearing of his distinguished guests, and so Herod, though 


His head was 
brought in a 
charger and 
given to the 
damsel. 


5»3 


There hath not Risen a Greater than John the Baptist . 

loth to be made the instrument of so bloody a work, gave instructions to 
an officer of his guard, who went and executed John in the prison, and 
his head was brought to feast the eyes of the adulteress whose sins he 
had denounced. 

Meanwhile Jesus, turning to the people, vindicates John from any 
suspicion of wavering or time-serving that his message might have raised, 
and bears testimony to his true character as “ a prophet, Jesus rcvca is 
yea, more than a prophet.” They had gone forth to the Himself as a 

wilderness to see him, and what had they beheld ? No pliant judgc * 
reed, that would bend before the wind of adversity ; no dainty courtier, 
to fear a king’s frown or a queen’s hatred. No ! he was the very Elijah 
predicted by the prophets as the Messiah’s herald ; but their childish 
folly, never knowing what to ask for or expect, vented itself in discontent 
and unbelief alike against the stern asceticism of John and the winning 
love of Jesus. “But wisdom is justified of all her children.” And now 
the time was already come for Christ to reveal Himself as a judge , to 
those who would not accept Him as the promised Saviour. 

Shortly after John’s departure from Enon into Galilee, Jesus found 
the prejudices of the Pharisees so great against Him that He too left 
Judea and journeyed to the retired districts of Galilee, where He would 
be removed from the Jews who were seeking His downfall, if not destruc- 
tion. In making this journey, from a point far north on the Jordan, His 
nearest way was through the district of Samaria, and by way of a pass 
that led into the valley of Shechem, near which were the graves of Abraham, 
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and over which road Jesus had before passed 
during his childhood. 

In this vale of Shechem Jacob first pitched his tent after his parting 
from Esau in safety, and here he purchased a field in which he erected 
an altar to God. And here also assembled all the tribes i n the sacred 
of Judah before Joshua, to receive their allotments. On the vale of 
north stood the lofty peak of Ebal, and to the south was Shcchem * 
Gerizim. Here the tribes were divided, some standing on the base and 
sides of one mountain, some upon the other, while the ark, priests and 
Levites stood between ; there it was that the nation, with a dramatic 



584 Jesus . . . being Wearied with His Journey , sat thus on the Wall. 

solemnity unparalleled in history, entered into a covenant with God. 
To this sacred place Christ now journeyed, His mind, 110 doubt, filled 
with solemn reflection, and contemplation of the great events that had 
transpired on this once hallowed ground, since profaned, however, by those 
sent by the king of Babylon, seven hundred years before, to replace the 
Jews. Here now were the hated Samaritans, who being denied by the 
Jews the right of partici- pating in the wor- 


ship at the Temple in 
built a temple of their 
for which they claimed 
Thus sprung up a hatred 


Jerusalem, had 
own on Gerizim, 
a greater sanctity, 
between the Jews 


THERE COMETH A WOMAN OF SAMARIA TO DRAW WATER. 

and Samaritans that time had not diminished, but rather rooted more deeply. 

At the foot of a low spur which crops out near the northeastern base 
of Mount Gerizim was the celebrated well of Jacob, dug by that patriarch 
two thousand years before to water his vast herds. The centuries had 
not touched it with their corroding fingers ; the well still remained as 
when first dug, eighty-five feet deep, through the solid rock, and eight 
feet in diameter, while the water continued its grateful flow as in the 
early years of Jewish freedom. Shechem, once the capital of Judah, where 


From Whence , then, hast Thou that Living Water ? 585 

kings were crowned, was near by, but no longer a ro}^al city ; it alone 
showed signs of decay, but the poor people still came out from its broken 
gates to draw water at the famous well, unconscious, though, of the 
portentous events that had transpired about the place. 

It was in the vale of Shechem, beside the hoary but inviting well 
of Jacob, that Jesus came with His disciples, in the heat of the day, and 
rested for a while. The disciples tarried but a few moments, for they 
had no food with them, and went on into the city to buy 
provisions. While they were gone a woman of Sychar, which Slr » 1 P erccive 
was a village near by, came to draw water at the well, and a prophet 
as she carried a water-pot and rope Christ asked her to draw 
and give Him drink. Perceiving at once that he was a Jew, the woman 
replied, “ How is it that Thou, being Jew, askest drink of me, who am a 
woman of Samaria ? ” Conscious of the absence of any outward appear- 
ance of Divinity in His nature, Christ gave the woman such an answer 
as was calculated to excite in her a curiosity to know something con- 
cerning Him: “ If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith 
to thee, ‘ Give Me drink,’ thou wouldst have asked of Him, and He would 
have given thee living water.” 

Believing that Christ had reference to fresh water from the well, but 
evidently impressed by his august address or the benign expression of His 
countenance, she addressed Him most respectfully, saying, “Master, Thou 
hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep ; from whence then hast 
Thou that living water ? ” 

Having gained her respect, and doubtless excited her curiosity, Jesus 
increased her confusion of mind by saying, “ Whosoever drinketh of this 
water shall thirst again ; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall 
give him shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall 
be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Eager 
with anticipation, she asks, “ Master, give me this water, that I thirst 
not, neither come hither to draw.” 

Seeing that she was incapable of understanding the import of His 
words, Christ determined to reveal His nature to her in a more direct 
manner, and accordingly asked her to call her husband, knowing what 


5 86 


When He is Come He will Tell ns All Things . 



The water of 
everlasting life. 


reply she would make. Confused the more by His request, she answered, 
“ I have no husband.” This gave to Christ the opportunity which He 
foresaw to show her how perfectly He knew the heart and mind of all 
through the Divine power within Him : “ Thou hast well 

said, ‘ I have no husband for thou hast had five husbands ; 
and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband ; in that 
saidst thou truly.” In other words, He told the woman that she was 
living in a condition of unlawful cohabitation, and so explicitly revealed 

her life that 
she saw her 
questioner 
must be more 
than mortal, 
and gave ex- 
pression to 
this belief by 
saying to 
Him, “Master, 
I perceive that 
Thou art a 
prophet.” A discourse fol- 
lowed, wherein Christ taught the 
woman the difference between an 
outward worship of God through 
impressive ceremonies > j n fi ne temples, and the worship of 

Him in the heart and spirit. “ But the hour cometh, and now is, when 
the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth ; for 
the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” Moved by what the Lord 
spoke, and catching, as it were, the shadow of His Divine nature, the 
woman spoke, “ I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ. 
When He is come, He will tell us all things,” whereupon Jesus replied, 
“ I that speak unto thee am He.” 

At this moment, when the conversation was most interesting, and the 
heart leaps with expectation for another revelation, the disciples who had 


JACOB’S WElyl.. 
(From a recent Photograph.) 



WHOSOEVER DRINKETH OF THIS WATER SHARE THIRST AGAIN.— St. John 4. 13 



( 587 ) 





5 88 


My Meat is to do the Will of Him who Sent Me. 


been sent to Shechem for food returned and expressed in mute astonish- 
ment their surprise at finding Jesus in familiar conversation with so 
lowly a person. The woman, however, transported with enthusiasm, put 
down her water-pot and hastened away to tell her people of the wonderful 
man she had met at Jacob’s Well. To her friends she exclaimed, “Come, 
see a man which told me all things that ever I did : Is not this the Christ ?” 

While the woman was gone the disciples offered the food which 
they had brought and besought Jesus to eat, but He only answered, “ I 
i have meat have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Not understanding 
to cat that yc the import of His words the disciples, in their simplicity, 
know not of. i n q U j re d jf^ during their absence, any man had brought 
Him food, to which He answered that His meat was to do the will of 
His Heavenly Father. Then lifting His eyes toward the green fields 
which stretched away down that beautiful valley and suggested to Him 
the exquisite parable, He spoke, “ Say not ye, there are yet four months 
and then cometh harvest ? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, 
and look on the fields ; for they are white already to harvest. And he 
that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.” 

The woman soon returned to Jesus, followed by a number of her 
townspeople, who surrounded and entreated Him to return home with 
them, accepting Him at once as the long-promised Messiah. For two 
days He tarried with the Samaritans, and though it is not recorded what 
He said to them, the effect of His teaching was to make many believe 
that He was indeed Christ, the Saviour of the world. 

The familiarity which Jesus exhibited with the Samaritans, those 
most bitterly detested by the Jews, was the first lesson He taught that 
all people, regardless of race or training, were equally 
f avore d of God, provided the heart inclined to truth and 
righteousness; it was also a sign which Jesus chose to give 
that the exclusiveness of the Jewish Church was offensive to God, and 
that Divine sympathy and love extended to all mankind, not excepting 
such degraded creatures as He knew the woman at the well to be. 

After tarrying two days in the vicinity of Shechem, Jesus and His 
disciples resumed their journey into Galilee. It would appear that some 


Except Ye see Signs and Wonders Ye will not Believe. 


5 % 


desired that He should go to Nazareth, for as He traveled, conversing 
of the people and their spiritual needs, He says, in sorrow, u A prophet 
hath no honor in his own country.” Evidently this must have been 
His reason for not going to Nazareth, which lay so near by His route 
as He journeyed on to Cana. His fame had so rapidly increased and 
gone before Him that as He reached the gates of Cana vast throngs 
greeted Him, many no doubt led by curiosity, but others believing that 
He was indeed the promised Messiah. 

Among these latter who came earnestly to seek Him was a member 
of the court of Herod Antipas, miscalled a “ nobleman ” in the transla- 
tion. This man rode down from Capernaum to ask Christ’s blessing 
upon his son, who lay sick near unto death, the physicians who attended 
him having given him over to die. This courtier was like Sjr> come 
nearly all the others who came to see Jesus ; while they down ere my 
had some faith, certainly more than a hope that He was ch,ld d,c * 
Christ, yet they were moved by a curiosity to behold the proof in miracles 
rather than in instructions which pointed them to the way of eternal 
life. When the courtier, therefore, asked Jesus to come down and heal his 
son, he evidently expected that Jesus could really perform such a miracle 
and that He would esteem it an honor to work His powers before the people 
upon a person of rank. But instead of immediately responding to the 
request, Jesus answered, “ Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not 
believe,” which was in the nature of a reproof for the curiosity which was 
displayed, and which was well merited. However, the courtier was too 
anxious for the life of his son to waste time listening to pious reflections, 
and in the agony of suspense he implores Christ, “ Sir (equivalent to 
master), come down ere my child die!” Thus appealed to, in language 
which manifested his faith in the ability of Jesus to save his boy, Christ 
dismissed the trustful courtier with these grateful words : 

“ Go thy way : thy son liveth.” That the man of rank 
believed from that hour his son would recover is attested by 
the fact that he returned home at once, but traveled so slowly that 
though Capernaum was but twenty-five miles distant from Cana, he did 
not reach his house until evening of the following day. As his 


Faith of the 
nobleman. 


59° Search the Scriptures, for in Them Ye think Ye have Eternal Life . 

servants saw him approaching they ran out to greet him with the 
joyful tidings, a Thy son liveth,” or, more properly, “ Thy son has 
recovered,” Then he asked them what hour he began to amend, and 
they replied at the seventh hour of yesterday did the fever leave him. 
As this was the hour when Jesus had promised that his son should be 
healed, the courtier knew it was to Christ he owed his restoration, so he 
and all his house believed on Jesus and glorified Him. After this, Christ 
preached in the synagogues and converted all who came to hear Him about 
Cana. 

When the fame of Jesus had spread throughout all Galilee, and He 
was called by the people of many cities in Palestine to come and preach to 
them, just as the services of popular ministers of to-day are in great demand, 
His heart, yearning for Nazareth, where His boyhood was 
The Jewish prompted Him to go from Cana to that town. 

synagogue in 

Christ’s time, He dismissed His disciples, however, and journeyed on 
alone, healing and preaching by the way. Arriving at 
Nazareth, He spent some time with His mother and went to the synagogue 
to worship with His people, without, however, exhibiting Himself as a 
teacher, or appearing in any respect other than as an humble man, careful 
of His conduct and pious in His demeanor. 

The Jewish synagogue in Christ’s day was a very plain building, though 
often built of the purest marble. On one side of the entrance were seats 
for the men; on the other, behind a lattice, the women, wrapped in their 
long veils, sat and worshiped. At the end was the tebhah , or ark, of painted 
wood, which held the rolls of Scripture, and on one side of this was the 
bema , an elevated seat for the reader, who was any one who had a reputation 
for learning, and had been invited by the chief of the synagogue to take that 
part of the service. In the chief seat sat ten or more u men of leisure,” one 
of them the chief of the synagogue. The chazzen , or u angel,” was the 
man who had charge of the Scripture rolls, handing them to the reader. 
After the prayers two lessons were always read, one from the Law, or books 
of Moses, and one from the Prophets. 

The fame of Jesus, as the promised Messiah, did not reach Nazareth, it 
appears, until a time after His visit to the place, subsequent to performing His 


Do not Think that I will Accuse You to the Father . 591 

miracles in Cana. Report had no doubt been made often to the Nazarenes 
that He was in the line of the priesthood, and therefore entitled to teach 
in the synagogues, but very few believed it, and were the less disposed 
to give the claim credence from the fact that He was not brought up in 
the schools wherein candidates were prepared for the priest- , , „ 

hood, but spent His early years assisting His father at His which came 
trade as a carpenter. However, when it was told in Nazareth down from 
how Jesus healed the courtier’s son, and of the enthusiasm 
inspired by His teachings at Cana, He was invited by the rabbis to read 
the second lesson on a certain Sabbath. In compliance with this request 
He ascended to the seat prepared for the reader, and taking the sacred 
roll, opened it and read the following prophetic words of Isaiah, peculiarly 
appropriate to the occasion : u The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because 
He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; He hath sent me 
to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recov- 
ering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach 
the acceptable year of the Lord.” When Jesus had thus read He returned 
the roll to the keeper, and sat down and began to preach, saying, among 
other things that excited the wonder of His hearers, “ This day is this 
Scripture fulfilled in your ears.” This declaration, taken in connection 
with the reports of His Messiahship, led the people to desire of Him some 
evidence that He was the promised Christ, for, said they, “ Is not this 
Joseph’s son ?” Anticipating their desire, He forestalled it by saying, u Ye 
will surely say unto Me this proverb : 1 Physician, heal thyself ;’ whatsoever 
we have heard done in Capernaum (or Cana) , do also here in this country ; 
but I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.” In 
proof of this He reminded them that Elias (Elijah) came to the succor of 
only one widow in the days of the famine in Sidon, though there were 
thousands suffering ; so were there many lepers in Israel, in the time of 
Eliseus (Elisha), but the prophet healed only Naaman, who was a Syrian. 

When the people saw that He would perform no miracle to gratify 
their curiosity, and that He answered their requests in this wise, while 
denouncing their sins, all the congregation arose in wrath and, seizing upon 
Him as a blasphemer and infamous pretender, they carried Him by force 


592 


That they Might Cast Him down Headlong. 


out of the city and to the brow of a high eminence which overlooked a 
rugged gorge covered with rocks deep below. Here they determined to 
wreak their full vengeance by casting Him headlong, that He might be 
dashed in pieces on the stones and His carcass be given to the 


Jesus Hid Him- 
self and went ravens. But His hour had not yet come. In a moment the 

out of the 
temple. 


wild cries subsided, the voice of anger was hushed ; a calm 
stole upon the mad throng, and amid the silence of the 
stricken crowd, palsied by the breath of Omnipotence, He walked out from 
among them and went peacefully on His way. Thus was a miracle 
wrought before their eyes, but their hearts were not softened. 



THE APPROACH TO NAZARETH. 


CHAPTER III. 


I must Preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also. 

ICTURESQUE and historic region of Galilee because 
the scene of the labors and miracles of Jesus after 
His departure from Cana. His chief objective 
point was the borders of the lake of Galilee, in the 
vicinity of Capernaum, a town which had many 
attractions for Him, perhaps, because of His invari- 
able good treatment by the citizens, not less than the 
charming associations of the place. This lake is vari- 
ously called in the Scriptures, Sea of Galilee, of Tiberias, 
and of Gennesaret, and became the scene of many of the 
Lord’s miracles. Here He spent a greater portion of His ministry, devoted 
to preaching, relieving the sick, and casting out devils. It is here that 
Christ is first presented to our view as preaching to such vast multitudes 
that he was forced to take His station in a boat on the lake, pushed off 
from the shore, so as to face all the people. To gain this position He 
had recourse to one of two fishing boats that were drawn out upon the 
beach, while the owners, two brothers, named Simon and Andrew, were wash- 
ing their nets after several ineffectual hauls. After Christ had preached 
awhile from the boat He called to Simon and Andrew, and bade them 
push off in the other boat to deep water and to let down their nets. In 
reply to this request Simon responded, “ Master, we have toiled all the 
night, and have taken nothing ; nevertheless, at Thy word, I will let down 
the net.” This answer was equivalent to replying that he knew there 
were no fish to be taken in the lake at that place, but, if Jesus desired 
it, he would cast the net to show how useless had been their toil. In 
making this demonstration, however, instead of bringing up an empty 
net as before, Simon and Andrew found the net so filled with fish that 
38 . (593) 










(594) 


HE WENT INTO A SHIP AND SAT, AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE STOOD ON THE SHORE. — St. Mat. 13. 



And Filled Both the Ships , so that they Began to Sink . 


595 


in the strain to draw them in the lines broke, and they had to call for 
help from some fishermen in another boat some little distance away. These 
other fishers were John and James, the sons of Zebedee, who was also a 
fisherman of Galilee, and they came quickly to the aid of They enclosed a 
their astonished partners. When the fish of this single haul great multitude 
were secured they were thrown into the two boats, which 
were loaded to the point of sinking. This miraculous draught was made 
in the presence of all the vast multitude, and so impressed was Simon with 
the sight that he fell down upon his knees, exclaiming, “ Depart from me, 



HE FEED DOWN AT JESUS’ KNEES. 

for I am a sinful man, O Lord,” thus, by direct prayer and confession of 
sin, recognizing for the first time Christ’s divinity. In response to this 
prayer Jesus said to Simon : “ Fear not ; from henceforth thou shalt catch 
men.” The impression made upon Simon was no greater than the effect 
produced upon his brother Andrew, and John and James, for the four brought 
their boats to land, and leaving them, loaded as they were, with a catch 
which might have yielded them a sum very considerable in the eyes of 
men so poor as they, followed Jesus and became His disciples. 


596 


He Cast Out the Spirits with His Word . 



On the Sabbath following the miraculous draught of fishes Jesus went 
up to Capernaum, on the north shore of the lake, and preached there in 
the synagogue. While conducting His discourse a man interrupted him 
with the exclamation, which brought great surprise to the congregation : 


“ Ha ! What have I to do with Thee, 
Art Thou come to destroy 
perceived that this poor 
with probably only a ray 
that Jesus had been called 


Thou Jesus of Nazareth ? 
us ? ” Christ instantly 
creature was a lunatic, 
of reason left to remind him 
an impostor by the Nazarenes. 
Whether, however, it was the 
irony of lunacy which prompt- 
ed the victim to add, u I know 
Thee who Thou art, the Holy 
One of God,” or whether this 
speech was suggested by an 
evil spirit that possessed the 
man, we are left to form 
our own conclusions, but 
since in either view of 
the case the demonstra- 
tion of Christ’s power 
remains the same, any 
controversy concerning 
these points becomes hy- 
percritical. We have 
already seen, in the temptation 
of Jesus, how powerless Satan 
was in the presence of the Holy 
One ; and in the miracles which 

were afterward performed Christ shows His power over evil spirits. 

It was evident from the text, however, that the people believed the 
disturber of their worship was possessed of a devil, or unclean spirit, and 
therefore Christ chose rather to indulge this belief than to excite a contro- 
versy which might diminish the effect of the lesson He sought to teach. 


HE SAW SIMON AND ANDREW HIS BROTHER 
CASTING A NET INTO THE SEA. 


597 


Simon's Wife's Mother was Taken with a Great Fever. 

Accordingly, He spoke to the man, u Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” 
Instantly reason was restored to the sufferer, and he turned from his 
delusions and frenzies to worship Jesus. 

This miracle astounded the congregation, as well it might. They had 
thus seen a manifestation of the Divine mind over that of a deranged being, 
and perceived that with a word Christ could perform such Astonishment 
wonders as only one who possessed the power from God, or of the 
was leagued with the Prince of Darkness, could accomplish. con & re & ation - 
They gave expression to their surprise by asking one another, 
u What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with what 
authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits and they obey 
Him ?” But though they did not fully understand through what 
influence Christ cast out devils — which all crazy persons were supposed 
to possess — they were satisfied that He was no ordinary man, and they 
therefore spread his fame until all Galilee was excited and the crowds that 
flocked to see him continued to increase. 

When Jesus came out of the synagogue He went to the house of 
Simon Peter, who had extended to him the hospitality of his humble home, 
which must have been poor indeed, since he was a fisherman, And Hg stood 
dependent upon his daily catch of fish for his subsistence. over her 
When Christ entered the lowly abode, one of the first things and rebukcd 
He saw there was a sick woman, consumed with a fever, and 
unable to raise her head. She was the mother of Simon’s wife, being 
cared for by a dutiful daughter, whose distress was great, but whose 
parental love brought sunshine into the home of poverty. Jesus went 
immediately to the bedside, and taking the sick mother’s hand, gently 
raised her up, probably at the same time passing His healing touch over 
her hot brow, when suddenly the fever left her and she arose, restored to 
health and full of thanksgiving. So great was the excitement now in 
Capernaum that people from the country about came hastening to Him ; 
they crowded the fisherman’s hut, poured out into the yard, filled the streets, 
probably gathered on the house-tops to catch a glimpse of His gracious 
form. Many came out of curiosity, others as believers in His Messiahship, 
and yet others were brought suffering from all manner of ills, the sick, 


598 Healing Every Sickness and Every Disease among the People . 



the lame, and those afflicted with insanity — possessed of devils. These 
were speedily healed by a touch of His magic hand, and sent on their 
way praising God for the gift of a blessed Saviour. When the Sabbath 
day had been thus spent dispensing blessings upon the sick, and in giving 
hope to those who sought the means of salvation, Jesus rested and slept 
under Simon’s roof until the early hours of morning, when He stole out 
before the crowds began to assemble again, and retired to a lonely spot 
to pray and hold communion with His Heavenly 

Father. But the anxiety of the people was such 

that, with , . jpfl .’Vv Simon, they went out, about the 

break of day, to search for 
Jesus, and when He 
was found they 
greeted Him with the 
persuasive plea: 
“ All men seek for 
Thee.” His repty 
was, “ Let us go into 
the next town that I 
may preach there 
also ; for therefore 
came I forth.” 

This was equiva- 
lent to telling the 
people of Capernaum 
that He had done 
enough to convince 
them of His mission and to show them the way unto salvation ; that it 
was now His duty to declare Himself, by divine works, in other places. 
So He went into all the towns of Galilee, preaching and healing the sick, 
while crowds continued to follow Him wherever He went. So general had 
become His fame as The Christ, attested by so many miracles wrought 
before the eyes of multitudes, that thousands came to hear Him from 
Syria, Decapolis, and the region beyond the Jordan, including all Judea. 


TRADITIONAL HOUSE OF SIMON 
THE TANNER. 


And Immediately His Leprosy was Cleansed . 


599 


While preaching in a certain city, the name of which none of the 
apostles have given us, a man afflicted with leprosy came to Jesus 
beseeching, and kneeling down to Him, said : “ If Thou 
wilt, Thou canst make me clear .” Leprosy has always Grcat mu,t ' tudcs 

came to be 

been, and is to this day, regarded as the most terrible of hcalcd by Him . 
all diseases that mankind is subject to. In the time of 
Christ, however, to its loathsome and incurable virulence was added the 
belief that leprosy was the type of inveterate sin, so that the sufferer 
was not only excluded from the society of his fellows, but was also 
denied the ordinances of religion. But outcast as he was among men, 
the leper found fellowship with Christ, for the Divine One had compas- 
sion on him, and stretching forth His hand He touched the sufferer, 
saying : “ I will ; be thou made clean,” and immediately the man was 
cured. In healing the leper, therefore, Christ proved that He could 
purge the soul of sin as easily as He could drive disease from the body, 
but yet He carefully regarded the law, and charged the leper to repair to a 
priest and make a thankoffering, as appointed by Moses, for his restoration ; 
he was also admonished against telling any one of what had been done 
for him, but to go directly to the priest and offer himself for cleansing. 
Instead of obeying this injunction of the Lord, the leper, unable to repress 
his joy and thankfulness, went “blazing abroad” the miracle of his 
healing. The report spread rapidly, and thousands of cripples, sick, 
lepers and infirm so besieged Jesus that to escape their importunities, for 
a necessary rest, He withdrew for a time into the wilderness. 

After Jesus had rested a short while in the wilderness, He returned 
to Capernaum and began again His gracious ministrations to the sick. 
Many Pharisees came now to hear Him, as well also others 
learned in the law who were attracted partly out of curiosity And they wcrc 

all amazed and 

but chiefly by a desire to manifest their learning and to g , orif j cd God. 
accuse Him of violations before the people. While Christ 
was teaching before the great crowd, so mixed with carpers and the 
faithful, opportunity was afforded for Him to manifest His power, and at 
the same time impart a wholesome lesson to the Pharisees. The house 
in which Jesus was preaching was not only filled, but the crowd outside 


6oo When the Multitude Saw it They Marvelled and Glorified God. 



and at the door was so dense that neither exit nor entrance was possible. 
Four friends of a palsied man had sought in vain for an entrance, desiring . 
to reach Jesus with their charge, but being unable to penetrate the crowd 
they at length drew the sufferer up on to the housetop, 
o a power removing the tiling from the roof they thus made an 
opening through which they lowered the palsied man 
on his bed to where Christ stood. By this act perceiving how 

great was the poor man’s faith, 
Jesus turned to the bed- 
ridden paralytic and 
said : “ Thy sins be 
forgiven thee.” Hor-v 
rifled at these words, 
which sounded so 
blasphemous to the 
Pharisees, in a pro- 
testing spirit they 


RISE, take up thy bed and waek. 


inquired : “ Who can forgive sins, but 
God alone ? ” In reply to this caviling 
inquiry He asked : “ Which is easier 
to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Rise, take up thy bed and 
walk ? ” To demonstrate, therefore, His divine prerogative, He said : “ But that 
ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, 
I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.” 
Immediately the paralytic was infused with new life, and with a gleeful 
bound he got up, and taking his couch upon his shoulders like the 
strong man which he had thus suddenly become, walked out of the 



Why do Ye Eat and Drink with Publicans and Sinners ? 601 

house giving praise to God. This sight was a convincing demonstration 
even to the Pharisees, who now also glorified Jesus, and being filled with 
fear, said to one another: a We have seen strange things to-day.” 

After healing the paralytic, Jesus went out of the house where He 
had been preaching and repaired to the shore of Lake Gennesaret, whither 
the great multitude of people followed, anxious to hear every word He 
might speak and to see every wonder He might perform. 

As He walked toward the lakeside He saw a tax collector, Roman 

taxes laid on 

named Levi, sitting at a stand where he received taxes the Jcws 
from the Jews. These tax gatherers were called publicans, 
and were under-officers of the Roman government, whose arbitrary 
exactions made them objects of intense loathing to the Jews. There 
were some, however, as we find in every obnoxious vocation, that 
were, possessed of humane feelings, and who, while their calling was 
despised, were personally liked. Such a one seems to have been Levi, 
afterwards called Matthew. This man received the Lord’s favor, probably 
because of his good reputation among the people of Capernaum, and he 
was accordingly called by Jesus to follow Him. What the nature of this 
call was we are only able to determine by subsequent events, for we know 
that Levi (Matthew) became from that moment one of His disciples. 

When Christ had preached again on the shores of the lake, generally 
called the sea , He returned to Matthew’s house and sat down with him to 
eat; so persistent was the crowd, however, that several fol- 

I am not sent 

lowed Him into the house, some of whom were doubtless to ca( , the 
Matthew’s neighbors or friends, and a number sat down at righteous but 
the table with Him. When the Pharisees saw Jesus thus smnerstore " 

pentance. 

eating with Levi, the publican, and with Gentiles, whom they 
called sinners, they turned quickly to the disciples among them, and in an 
accusing voice said, “He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners.” 
To the implacable character of the Jews, who were the greatest of sticklers 
for the letter of their laws, this commingling with sinners, and with the 
obnoxious tax collectors, was unpardonable, and to them an evidence of 
Christ’s moral delinquency. Hearing their complaints, Jesus condescended 
to explain to them that it is not those in health who need a physician, 


602 


His Disciples Plucked the Ears of Corn and did Eat . 

but the sick; and that his mission was not to call the righteous, but the 
sinful to repentance, which answer was so apt and convincing that the 
Pharisees were perplexed. When after this confusion they asked Him 
why it was that, while John’s disciples fasted according to the law, His 
own disciples disregarded such observance, He replied to them by parables 



not confined within forms and traditions that appealed only to the 
eye, but rather to the heart, the seat, of conscience. 


When the Sabbath day arrived Jesus and his disciples were on a 
journey toward another part of Galilee, still followed by a large body of 
men, not a few of whom were Pharisees. These self-right- 

Thc Son of 

Man is also eous higots had often beheld the power that had been given 
lord of the Him, and were ready to confess the more than human agency 

Sabbath. which He employed, but were still quite as ready to condemn 

any infraction of the old Jewish law as before; so, when His disciples 
began to pluck the ears of corn which grew in a field through which the 


Is it Lawful on the Sabbath Day to do Good f 


603 


route lay, these Pharisees exclaimed in their holy horror, “ Behold, why 
do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?” But Jesus only 
answered, by reminding them of how David, to appease his hunger, had 
entered into the house of God and eaten the shew-bread, which it was 
unlawful for any but priests to eat ; that the Sabbath was made for man 
and not man for the Sabbath; more than this He declared that the Son 


nf* A T a n ic lr»-rrl ^xr<=kti 



THE POOE OF SIEOAM. 


a Sabbath to a large congregation ; while He was thus teaching a man 
approached having a withered hand, which he extended and begged the 
Lord to restore. 

The Pharisees were all attention in a moment, wondering if He would 
do such a gracious miracle on the sacred day in the synagogue devoted 
exclusively to worship. Jesus knew how the bigots in their hearts desired 
to accuse Him, and addressing them he therefore said, “ Is it Heals thc 
lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm ? to save withered hand 
life or to kill ? ” But none of them answered him, where- on a Sabbath - 
upon, seeing how embittered were their feelings toward Him and 
that they had set their regard upon the strict letter of the law, even 
though it were in conflict with the noblest instincts in nature, He 


604 


They Communed . . . What They Might Do to Jesus. 


said to the man, “ Stretch forth thy hand.” Immediately the man had 
extended his arm in obedience to the command, his hand was fully restored. 
Though a miracle was thus performed in their presence the Pharisees and 
Herodians accused Jesus of violating the law, and they set up a fierce cry 
against Him, demanding that he be stoned, or otherwise severely dealt with 
as a blasphemer and criminal. 

To the reader who knows nothing of the austerities of the Jewish laws, 
or of the extraordinary bigotry of the Pharisaic sect, a refusal to accept the 
miracles performed by Christ as an evidence of His Divine nature, appears 
contrary to human nature. But it was to the tenacious principles of the 
race that rejection of Christ was due, and to those understanding the Jewish 
nature and tradition, that rejection is perfectly natural. The Pharisee 
devoted all his spare time to a religious study of the traditions of the rabbis 
which he considered far more important than the Scriptures themselves. 
For this reason, the declarations of the rabbis were held in greater veneration 
than the words of the prophets. A thousand foolish stories were told, and 
implicitly believed, of how certain rabbis had manifested their powers over 
the elements and made inanimate objects obedient to their will. 

The Pharisee was distinguished by the broad fringe on his dress, the 
great size of the four tassels on his cap, and the large phylacteries, or 
little boxes containing Scripture texts, which he wore strapped on his 
forehead and right arm. They prayed aloud and took care that all 
should hear of anjr alms they gave. Some of them were sincere, devoted 
men — Pharisees from love to God — but, as a class, they were hypocrites, 
as Jesus called them, making numberless laws for the common people, 
is it lawful on an( ^ secretly breaking them themselves. One can better 
the Sabbath day understand how these Pharisees bound heavy burdens on 
to do good. men’s shoulders (as Christ said), by learning a few of 
the laws which they made as to the Sabbath. The day began at 
sunset on Friday and ended with sunset on Saturday ; and as the 
disappearance of the sun was the only mark of time, its commencement 
was different on a hill-top and in a valley. If it were cloudy, the hens 
going to roost was the signal. The beginning and the close of the 
Sabbath was announced by a trumpet. All food must be prepared, all 


Within Ye are Full of Hypocrisy and Iniquity. 


605 



vessels washed, and all lights kindled before sunset. The money girdle 
must be taken off, and all tools laid aside. On Friday, before the 
beginning of the Sabbath, no one must go out of the house with a needle 
or a pin lest he forget to lay them aside before the Sabbath opens. Every 
one must also search his pockets at that time to see that there is nothing 
left in them with which it is forbidden to go out on the Sabbath. To 
wear one kind of sandals was “ carrying a burden,” while to wear another 
kind was not; It was unlawful to 

go out with wooden sandals, or shoes 

which had nails in 
the soles, or with a 
shoe and a slipper, 
unless one 
foot were hurt. 

It was unlaw- 
ful for any one 
to carry a loaf 
on the public 
street ; but if 
two carried it, 
it was not un- 
lawful. The 

quantity of THii V1EI<AGE OF SIWAM , 
food that 

might be carried on the Sabbath was 
settled by the rabbis ; it must be less in 
bulk than a dried fig ; if of honey, only 
as much as would anoint a wound ; if water, as much as would make 
eye-salve; if ink, as much as would form two letters. To light a fire, or 
even to put out a dangerous conflagration on the Sabbath, Austerities of 
was considered a grave crime. No one might administer the J ews * 
physic to the sick, set a broken bone, or put one back that had 
slipped out of joint on the Sabbath. Even if a person were buried 
under ruins no one might attempt to uncover him. There were 


6o6 


Ye Made the Commandment of God of None Effect. 

also set rules for washing on the Sabbath. Water must be drawn on 
the previous day, and when used on the Sabbath it must be only for 
sprinkling the hands. For a long while a heated discussion was carried on 
between two Pharisees as to whether or not it was lawful to eat an egg that 
had been laid on a Sabbath. There was no dispute, however, on the point 
as to whether an egg could be thus eaten if laid by a hen 

Remarkable ^at was k e pt for no other purpose. Such an idea was mon- 

customs and 

prohibitions, strous in the eyes of both ; but if it had been decided that 
a hen should be killed and eaten on the day following, 

and by chance she lay an egg on the Sabbath ? That was the 
question. One rabbi, Schammai, said such an egg might be lawfully 
eaten, but another rabbi, Hillel, held otherwise, and the egg was 

accordingly condemned. 

There were thirty-nine principal occupations forbidden to the Jews on 
the Sabbath. A traveler must stop at the hour of midnight on Friday 

regardless of the wilderness or weather he might be in. The lame were 

permitted to use a crutch, but the blind could not lawfully carry a cane. 
A person could not carry a fan or whip to drive off the flies ; a handker- 
chief must not be carried loose in the pocket, though it might be carried 
if tied to a girdle at the waist. 

Though so many small things were forbidden to be done by a Jew 
on the Sabbath, it was lawful for his Gentile servant to do them for him, 
by which loop-hole through the law the rich Jew did not have to deny 
himself many privileges. Not only did they adopt many devices for 
indulging what the law forbade, but their hypocricy extended so far that 
the Pharisees made of the Sabbath a day of feasting and social enjo 3 ^ment, 
during which a bounteous hospitality was practiced by the wealthy. 

Amidst such austerities, subtleties, superstitions and bigotry, it is 
small matter for surprise that Jesus should become the object of hatred 
to the Pharisees, whose hypocricy He was constantly exposing ; but 
though they cried out in threats against Him, He passed them by and 
went up to Jerusalem to attend the celebration of the Passover. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Now there is at Jerusalem , by the sheep market , a pool. 



"OON after Christ came within the gates of Jerusalem 
He repaired to the pool of Bethesda (signifying 
the house of mercy), which was near the sheep-gate 
on the northeast side of the Temple. 

It is Said that the waters of this tank were con- 
nected with those of the pool of Siloam by subter- 
raneous channels, through which there were sudden 
flushes that made the water bubble up in commotion. At 
such seasons the waters was supposed to have healing 
: virtues confined, however, to the first who stepped down into 
the tank, around which porticos were built to shelter the 
multitude of sick and cripples who came to take their chance. The 
doubts that have been cast upon the prodigy do not in the least detract 
from the use made of it by Christ. On the contrary, the supposition of 
its being a delusion sets the truth of His miracle in a more striking 
light, as being the reality of that power which was there vainly sought. 
In any case, the miracle itself displayed the power, which Jesus displayed 
in a subsequent discourse, of exercising authority both over 
the laws of nature and the positive institutions of religion. Miracle of 
The case chosen by our Lord was among the most hope- po ** '^suoam. 
less of all that lay in the house of mercy. The cripple 
had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years, the very period that his 
forefathers had wandered in the wilderness ; and the burden of his 
infirmities was aggravated by the consciousness that they were the 
natural punishment of his sins. Thus he was a fit type of the people, 
in whom Jesus fulfilled the words of Isaiah, “ Himself took our infirmities 
and bare our sicknesses. Jesus healed him, not by helping him to the 

(607) 


6o8 


He Gave Them Power Against Unclean Spirits . 


water, nor by any other visible agency, but by the very command to use 
the powers that had been so long suspended : “ Rise, take up thy bed and 
walk !” 

When the man, restored upon the moment, took up his pallet and 
started with it toward the home, the Pharisees stopped him on the way, 
He said unto sa yi n g> " It is unlawful for thee to carry thy bed on the 
him, wilt thou Sabbath.” To which he responded, with that confidence 
be made born of the miracle which had been done for him, that he 

whole? had been bidden to carry it by the Great One who had 

healed him. When these Jews knew that it was Jesus who had again 
counseled the violation of their austere law, they made angry threats 
against Him and sought His life, but Christ defended His act by declaring 
to them that it was through God alone He was able to perform such 
wonders, and that as the Son of God He had been given the power to 
raise the dead and to call sinners to repentance. He thereupon announces 
to them that the hour was coming when the dead should hear the voice 
of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. “ They that have done 
good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the 
resurrection of judgment.” “ The works which the Father hath given 
Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me that the 
Father hath sent me.” 

After thus announcing the new law to the Jews, and explaining to 
them from whence the power had come that enabled Him to do such 
great works, Jesus retired to a desert place on the mountain and spent 
a night in prayer and communion with God. Early on the following 
morning a vast crowd assembled as usual to hear Him 

Jesus chooses preach, but before discoursing to them He called twelve 

His apostles, persons from the assemblage whom He designed should 

become His special messengers on earth and to bear 

testimony to all His acts. These messengers He called apostles , and were 
selected from among those who had already been His intimate friends and 
followers during the first year of His ministry in Galilee. Their names 
were as follows : Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother ; James, and John 
his brother, sons of Zebedee; Philip ; Bartholomew, who was first called 


The Names of His Apostles are These. 


609 


Nathanael ; Thomas ; Matthew, who as a publican was called Levi ; 
James, the son of Alphaeus ; Simon, the Canaanite, called the Zealot ; 
Judas Iscariot, and Thaddeus. Though the call of all alike proceeded 
from their Master’s grace, we cannot fail to notice those personal qualifi- 
cations which He Himself condescended 


to own and use in His 
of Peter (the Rock ) ; 
of Zebedee, whom He 


service: the firm faith 
the energy of the sons 
surnamed Boanerges 



39 


HEALING EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE- — Mat. 9.35. 



610 The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. 

(Sons of Thunder ), 
united in John with 
that spirit of love 
that made him the 
beloved disciple ; the 
fraternal and friendly 
affection of Andrew 
and Philip ; the devotion and guileless sincerity of Nathanael ; the self 
sacrifice of Matthew ; the practical godliness of James, and the firm 
resolve of his brother John to “ contend earnestly for the faith once 
delivered to the saints ;” and at the opposite extremity of the moral scale, 
that love of the world which made Judas Iscariot an awful example, 
that even one of those chosen by Christ to live with Him and hear His 
word could yet betray his Master, and prove to have been all along “ a 
son of perdition ” — for “ He knew from the beginning, who should 
betray Him.” 

Having appointed the twelve disciples, and conferred upon them the 
Holy Spirit, by which, in His name, they were instructed to teach and 
Fear not them heal the sick, Christ withdrew from before the multitude, 
which kill the and taking His beloved messengers higher up upon the 
body * mountain he there assembled them — after the manner of 
Moses when he took the heads of the twelve tribes to Sinai’s peak to 
expound to them the law — and instructed them in the new dispensation 
which they were to proclaim to all mankind. 

Under" the eye of God, Christ preached to His disciples “ as one 
having authority,” and revealed to their wondering, but no less admiring, 
senses what they should do in order to produce fruit meet for sinners, 
and who were really to be called blessed. Blessed, said He, are those who 
mourn, are patient, and are those who hunger after righteousness, so are 
they also blessed who 
are merciful to others, 
pure in heart, and 
they that keep peace 
among men. 




/ Have Not Found so Great Faith ; No , Not in Israel. 611 

Besides these assurances of happiness through patience and humility, 
the Lord taught His disciples to practice forbearance and self-sacrifice 
even in the face of wrongs which they might suffer at the hands of 
persecutors, for by this they might learn to appreciate the sacrifice which 
He was born into the world to endure. His instructions, however, were 
summed up in one general law which should constitute 
the golden text of every Christian’s life : “ Thou shalt love lssue of the 

law and 

the Lord thy God, and thy neighbor as thyself,” or u Do the gospel . 
unto others as you would have others do unto you.” 

He counseled them especially against worshiping after the manner of 
the Pharisees, who did their good works publicly with the view of 
gaining the praise of men ; but to build their hopes and faith upon the 
rewards promised by God, who bestows his favors openly upon those who 
worship Him secretly. He illustrated His counsels by reciting the parable 
of the wise and foolish builders. The former built his house upon a rock, 
where the foundation was so secure that neither wave nor wind could move 
it ; while the latter reared his habitation upon the sand, which yielded 
under the first assaults of the elements and was swept away. The former 
He likened unto the true Christian, whose foundation was truth and right- 
eousness and a trust fin God, while the latter represented the hypocrite, 
whose prop was vainglory and the applause of the world. 

While Jesus was preaching in Capernaum, after appointing His dis- 
ciples, a centurion, or captain of a company of Roman soldiers, sent to Him 
by some of the Jewish elders asking Him to come to his Say jn a word 
house and heal a favorite servant who was at the time lying and my servant 
very ill. The Jewish messengers accordingly besought the shal1 be hcalcd * 
Lord to do this favor for their friend, whom they pronounced to be a very 
excellent man, although a Roman, for he had shown great compassion 
for the Jews and had even built a synagogue with his own money, in 
which they might worship. The request was at once responded to, but 
while Jesus was on His way to see the sick man He met other messen- 
gers that had been sent on the same errand as the first, who, addressing 
Him, said, “ Lord, the centurion has not come himself to ask you this 
favor, esteeming himself as unworthy to approach your presence ; nor 


6l2 


He that was Dead Sat up , and Began to Speak. 


does he regard himself so well as to merit your coming to his house, 
and in his humility, therefore, believing that Thou hast all power in the 
name of God, he begs that Thou wouldst will that his servant recover, 
being sure that in so doing it would be accomplished.” 

When Jesus had heard this message, the exhibition of implicit faith 
astonished Him and turning to those who were with Him, He declared 
that in all Israel He had not found one who had such belief as this 
Roman officer. He told them also that at the day of judgment many peo- 
ple of other nations who believed in him would be saved, while the unbe- 
lieving Jews would be lost, since it was neither the forms of worship nor 
the race that God took account of, but the heart of every man. 

When the messengers returned to the centurion they found that the 
Lord’s will had been done, for the sick servant was suddenly made well. 

On the day after restoring the centurion’s servant, Jesus went to 
Nain, a small town of Galilee not far from Capernaum. As He drew 
And he that was near to the gate of the city he was met by a funeral party 
dead sat up bearing the body of a man away for burial. Beside the 

and began to body walked a woman violently weeping, whose grief excited 
such compassion that Jesus stopped the cortege, and approach- 
ing the woman bade her not to weep. She told Him that on the bier 
was the body of her only son, by whose death she had been left without 
a staff to lean upon, and praised his virtues in life as only a fond and 
sorrowing mother can. While she was thus crying, Jesus went to the bier, 
and taking the hand of the dead boy, said, “ Young man, I say unto thee, 
Arise.” Picture in imagination the surprise manifested by the funeral 
attendants, and the beatific joy of the loving mother, when they saw the 
dead thus restored, by a word, to life again, the pallor of death giving place 
to the rosy blush of health and strength ! We cannot wonder that all 
who saw this marvelous sight were afraid, for in the midst of death the 
soul of the living seems burdened with an affinity for the immortal, and 
becomes leagued with melancholy. To behold, therefore, life burst forth 
anew from the dead, and throw off the cerements that already seem heavy 
with the odor of the grave, would produce a reaction so spontaneous 
as to convulse the soul. But in another moment the restored young man 


One of the Pharisees Desired Him that He would Eat with Him . 613 


had spoken, and the spell of fear was broken; a joyful mother springs 
forward to convince herself that her son is really living, and as she 
clasps him to her bosom she finds a responsive heart beating measures 
to her own. And all who saw this miracle praised God. 



Some time after the raising of the widow’s son, we know not when, 
for the Bible does not pretend to describe the ministry of Jesus in the 
regular sequence of events, 

Christ was invited to share 
the hospitality of a Pharisee 
named Simon. This 
man was somewhat 
better than the sect 
to which he belonged, 
for he was impressed, 
by what he had seen, 
that Jesus had about 
Him many of the 
Divine attributes, 
though he could not 
reconcile His teach- 
ings with the Mosaic 
law, which 
he still rev- 
erently re- 
garded. 

Thus was 
the Pharisee 

in Conflict AND HE SAID ’ YOUNG m AN, I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE. 

with himself, but he sought to know more of Christ, and therefore 
invited Him to his house. A sumptuous dinner was provided — which 
was a feature characteristic of the Pharisee — to which Jesus, the host 
and other friends sat down ; but before the meal was begun a woman 
named Mary, of Magdala, having heard of the Saviour’s presence, 
came into the room bearing an alabaster box filled with holy 


614 Kissed His Feet and Anointed Them with the Ointment. 




it. Distinguishing Him at once she fell upon 
inees and begged the Lord to have compassion 
1 to forgive the sins with which her soul was 
urdened. She then washed the feet of Jesus with 
her tears and wiped them with her hair, after which 
she anointed them with the precious balm which 
she had brought. 

The Pharisee, knowing the woman 
to be a sinner, a lost sheep from / 
the social fold, looked with horror 
upon what was being done, for 
it was the Pharisees’ boast that 
they suffered no sinner to 
touch them. In his heart he 
therefore said, “ If this man 
is indeed sent of God, he 
would know that this woman 
is a sinner, and would have 
sent her away.” Knowing 
that the Pharisee was revolv- 
ing these thoughts in his 
mind, Jesus said to him, 

‘Simon, I have something to 
say to thee;” whereupon He 
propounded to the Jew this 
question : Two men owed 
another man money; one owed 
a large sum while the debt 
of the other was small, but as neither one was able 
to pay any part of his indebtedness the creditor 
freely canceled the obligations of both. Tell me, 
now, which of the two men should be the more 

thankful? To this Simon replied, surely the one somefeuuponstonv 
whose debt was largest. Thou hast answered not C much H earth HE1 HA ° 


SOME SEEDS FEEE BY THE 
WAYSIDE AND THE FOWES 
CAME AND DEVOURED THEM 
UP. 


Who is this Man that Forgive th Sin also? 


6i 5 


Jesus rebukes 
Simon. 


rightly, said Jesus. To illustrate His meaning, and teach a practical 
lesson to the Pharisee, He called Simon to bear witness to his own short- 
comings, for, said Christ, compare thyself with this woman ; I entered 
into thine house, thou gavest me no water for My feet ; but she hath 
washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of 
her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss; but this woman since 
the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head 
with oil thou didst not anoint ; but this woman hath anointed My feet with 
ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are 
forgiven ; for she loved much ; but to whom little is forgiven, the 
same loveth little. And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And 
they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, “ Who 
is this that forgiveth sins also?” 

Heretofore, possibly in the first two years of His ministry, Jesus 
had given practical proof of His Divine nature, not only by the wisdom 
of His discourse, which confounded the rabbis, but by wondrous miracles 
that fully attested His powers. While many were convinced and sought 
Him as their Lord and Saviour, others of the Pharisaic order, and mem- 
bers of what we may term the Temple party, the priests, and arrogant 
scribes, vain with riches, refused to accept His works as evidence of his 
Godly nature. Admitting, as they were forced to do, that he healed the 
sick and cast out devils, yet they vociferously declared that it was not 
through the gift of the Holy Spirit, but by virtue of a league which He 
maintained with Satan, which made Him more worthy of death as a 
blasphemer and necromancer, or wizard. For this reason they pursued 
Him with malice and insult, seeking every way possible to inflame the 
people against Him. Notwithstanding the taunts, rebukings and revilings 
of these self-righteous hypocrites, the popularity of Jesus The scribcs 
continued to increase, and multitudes poured in upon Him deny His divine 
from all parts of Palestine and Syria, and probably from Egypt, 

Arabia and Rome also. But He now began to change the character of His 
preaching, and adopted an objective style of teaching, by which He hoped 
to illustrate His discourse for the more perfect understanding of His 
hearers. Accordingly, He taught them by parables. 


6ib 


A Sower Went Forth to Sow His Seed. 


On a certain day, it is related, Jesus went and sat by 
the seaside, but being soon surrounded by a great multi- 
tude anxious to receive His instruction, He w r ent into 
a boat, and anchoring it a short distance from the 
shore, delivered to them the parable of the sower. 
“ Behold,” said He, “ a sower went forth to sow : 
and when he sowed, some seeds fell by 
the wayside, and the fowls came 
and ate them up ; some fell among 
stony places, where they had not 
much earth, and forthwith they 
sprang up, but when the sun 
was up they were scorched, 
because they had no root 
And some fell among thorns, 
and the thorns choked them ; 
but others fell into good 
ground, and brought forth 
fruit, some an hundred, some 
sixty, and some thirty-fold. 

Who hath ears to hear, let 
him hear.” 

When the disciples asked 
Him to explain the meaning 
of this parable, He answered 
them by likening the sowing 
of seeds to the teachings of 
the truth. There are some 
who hear but cannot understand, and though they 
may be inclined for a time to believe, yet evil 
promptings arise to make them speedily forget 
their obligations to God ; others receive the truth 

with understanding and rejoicing, but after cultivat- OTHERS FEUIKIO GOOD 
ing it for a time succumb to tribulations or perse- forth "fruit, somb°an 

HUNDREDFOLD. 



AND SOMlE FELL AMONG 
THORNS; AND THE THORNS 
SPRANG UP AND CHOKED 
THEM. 





There Came Down a Storm of IVtnd on the Lake. 617 

cutions ; while yet others, like seed among the thorns, endeavor to 
receive righteousness and worldly pleasures into their souls at the 
same time, but which being irreconcilable, righteousness is crowded 
out to give place to vanity. But the seed that falls upon good 
ground is like the teachings of godliness, that find permanent lodg- 
ment in the heart and understanding, where, in such goodly soil, they 
bring forth the fruit of righteousness. 

Jesus also gave the multitude other parables, which brought 
directly home, to them that heard, the lessons which they needed most to 
learn. 

When Jesus had given these parables to the multitude He departed 
in a vessel for the other shore of Gennesaret, accompanied by His disci- 
ples and several sailors ; but they had not gone far when a 
tempest arose which grew fiercer until there was danger Carest thou 

not that wc 

of the boat foundering. Wearied by preaching so long, and per ish ? 
ministering almost night and day to the countless crowds 
that thronged about Him, He took advantage of the quiet hour afforded 
on board the little vessel and sought repose. Here He slept, unmindful 
of roaring wind and lashing wave which rocked Him with the safety 
that a mother lulls her babe to rest. But there was fear upon those 
who were cradled with Him ; they saw not the hand of God outstretched 
above the craft, but looked upon the lowering clouds as so many fingers 
of a destroying demon, moving towards them with relentless fury and a 
savage fierceness that would pall any save those having a heart filled 
with abiding faith. Wave after wave dashed over the frail shallop, while 
deafening blasts rent the sails. With the energy of despair the sailors 
manned the pumps, but their labor was as futile as though they had 
been baling the sea. Hopeless, exhausted, the crew ceased their battling 
and rushed to where Jesus lay peacefully sleeping, crying, “ Master, 
Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” Did they believe there was 
a hand to save? No! It was a cry like, “ Wake, wake, the vessel is 
sinking ; every man now for himself ; seize whatever is near that will 
float, and trust to fate for salvation.” But as Jesus awoke, He gazed 
about for a moment upon the pale faces and hurrying feet of the stricken 



(6i8) 


AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH AND TAUGHT THEM 


Then Went the Devils Out of the Mari. 


619 


Devils cast 
out of two 
demoniacs. 

Art Thou 


crew, and without moving from His seat bade the wind cease, and with 
a calm voice spoke to the raging sea, “ Peace, be still.” I11 a moment 
the elements, obedient to His will, hushed their wild ravings and sunk 
their white crests beneath a placid surface, while the whispering winds 
went back into their cavern homes, and “ there was a great calm.” 
“ And He said unto them : Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye 
have no faith ? ” In their wonder and thankfulness the crew could make 
no answer, but looking into each other’s eyes they said within themselves, 
“ What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey 
Him?” 

When Jesus passed over Lake Gennesaret, He landed in the country 
on the east side called Gergasa, where, it appears, the people were await- 
ing Him. He had scarcely landed when two demoniacs 
came out of the “ tombs,” in the language of the Scriptures, 
but in reality out of their cave-dwellings on the hillsides 
of Gadara, and in fierce words, disputing His way, cried out, 

“ What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God ? 
come hither to torment us before the time ? ” At that moment a large 
herd of swine were perceived feeding on an adjacent hill, and the devils 
besought Him that if He cast them out He would permit them to enter 
the swine. The request was granted, and immediately the devils left 
the demoniacs and entered the swine, which, being thus possessed, ran 
down the hill and plunged into the lake, where they speedily per- 
ished. The swineherds, astounded and angered by the sudden loss of 
their animals, ran quickly to Gadara and reported what had occurred, 
which brought out the entire population of the town in protest. They, 
fearful of His power, begged Him to leave their coast. We can only 
understand the importance of this miracle by considering the circumstances 
under which it was wrought. The Gadarenes were what 
would have been called “ tomb-dwellers ” at the time, but , e ° a r v * , 
which have since been classed as troglodytes , or, “ cave 
dwellers.” These so-called “ tombs ” were excavations wrought in lime- 
stone rocks, which even to this day dot the hills of that country, known 
as the mountains of Gilead, and which are about sixteen miles from 


620 Thy Daughter is Dead ; Trouble Not the Master . 

Tiberias. The people were given to acts of outlawry, so that it was 
extremely dangerous for a person not well protected to travel through the 
country. Their chief pursuit was the raising of swine, for which they 
had infinitely greater regard than for their souls, hence the destruction 
of the herd of swine was in the nature of a punishment for their cupidity. 
Jesus found the Gadarenes so densely ignorant, treacherous, and self-willed 



O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, THOU THAT KILLEST THE PROPHETS. —Matt. 23. 37. 


in their degradation, that He remained in the country but a short while, 
and returned by ship to the other side of Gennesaret, where he was 
immediately surrounded by a great crowd anxious to hear His teaching. 

Scarcely had He touched the beach when one of the rulers, or chief 
priests, of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came beseeching Him to heal 
his little daughter, who was at that time lying at the point of death 
at his house, a little way off. Hearkening immediately to the distress 



Straightway the Fountain of Her Blood Dried Up. 


621 


call, Jesus started for the priest’s house, followed by the throng of people. 
As He was moving along the way, there came up stealthily behind Him 
a poor woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. p ur jf y ingthe 
The exact nature of her affliction is a matter for conjecture, woman of a 
but that her disease was of a most exhausting and painful b,oody ,ssuc * 
nature we are assured by the narrative, which tells us that she had 
suffered many things and had spent all her possessions upon physicians 
without gaining any relief. She heard 
of Jesus, of His gentle ways, and 
the cures which He had per- 
formed, and now sought 
Him ; not, however, as one 
expecting to command His 
immediate attention, 
but as a lowly, 
though faith-in- 
spired aspirant for 
His grace and 
favor. Believing 
in His Divine na- 
ture, from whence 
all goodness eman- 
ated, she stole up 
behind Him and 
touched His gar- 
ment, saying with- 
in herself, “If I 
may touch but His 
clothes, I shall be 
whole.” Nor was 

her sustaining faith misplaced, for the moment she had touched Him, 
the panacea of His holy nature was poured out graciously upon her, and 
forthwith she felt the rejuvenating, health-imparting influence, and knew 
that she was made whole. 


DAMSEL,, I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE.— Mark 5. 41. 


622 Straightway the Damsel Arose and Walked. 

The moment of the pious contact Jesus knew that some afflicted, but 
faithful, person had sought His holy catholicon, and turning to His 
disciples, asked who had touched His clothes. To this they made answer, 
u Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who 
touched Me?” The poor woman, with joy in her heart for her restoration, 
but with tremblings upon her lips, came, and throwing herself at Christ’s 
feet, told Him, in faltering accents, of what she had done, and implored 
His loving compassion. The confession of her faith and acknowledgment 
of unworthiness brought forth another blessing from Jesus, who, with 
fatherly affection, took her by the hand and lifting her up, said, “ Daughter, 
thy faith hath made thee whole.” 

Scarcely was the woman dismissed when some of Jairus’ servants 
came running to meet him, bringing to his sad heart the crushing news 
of his daughter’s death, and saying, She is dead, wherefore trouble the 
Master (Jesus) any further? 

As Jairus fell to weeping, Jesus bade him dismiss his sorrow and to 
only believe, for all should be well. Requesting the multitude to halt 
The raising of and abide in that place, Christ took with Him only Peter, 
jairus’ daughter. j ame s and John, and following on behind Jairus, He soon 
reached the house of death and mourning. As He came in at the door, 
loud lamentations reached His ears, and to quiet the weeping household 
He asked, “ Why make ye this ado, and weep ? the damsel is not dead 
but sleepeth !” This declaration, instead of abating their grief, elicited 
only their scorn. But Jesus heeded not their rebuke; He bade all go out 
of the house save the father, mother and His three disciples ; then with 
these He repaired to the death-chamber, and taking hold of the cold hand, 
spake, u Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.” Magic voice ! Wondrous words ! 
The girl immediately threw back the pall, and responding to the touch of 
the blessed Saviour, she straightway rose up and walked into the embrace 
of her mother’s arms. Oh! what joy was there in this house! Refusing 
the adulations which the house offered, Jesus charged them to tell no one 
of what He had done, but to set food before the young girl, for she was 
hungry. 


CHAPTER V. 


The Master of Parables. 



By Ian Maclaren {Rev. John Watson), author of 
‘ By the Bonnie Brier Bush ” and other moral 
stories. 


HE fascination of Jesus’ speech can be traced to various 
features, but none is more engaging than His prodigal 
use of the parable. Certain minds are so governed by 
abstractions that they can never connect an idea with the 
general system of things, but keep it in a place apart ; 
others are so destitute of imagination that they never catch 
any analogy between the principles of the spiritual world 
and the laws of the natural. Such minds depend for the exposition of 
truth either on the processes of reason, or the deductions of tradition, and 
their teaching may even be considerable and authoritative, but it would be 
colorless, repellent, ineffectual. The mind of Jesus was so profound that it 
took in the sum of things, and saw the least incident to be a part of the 
whole. So rich in vision that it detected the spiritual beneath the physical. 
As He looked out on nature and on life, two worlds were His, that which is 
seen and that which is not seen, and the seen was shot through as in a 
transparency by the unseen light. No truth of religion ever came to Him 
naked and austere, but in a comely shape and clothed with fair colors ; no 
practice of religion but realized itself before His eyes in the habits of dail}^ 
living. This outward show, with its rising and setting sun, its pasture, 
lilies, and growing corn, its viewless winds, and flocks of careless birds, was 
a sacrament — a sign of the sacred mysteries of the soul. This varied 

(623) 



624 He put forth a Parable to .those which were Bidden. 

human life, with its fishermen in their boats, its farmers sowing the seed, 
its working women busy with household labors, its rich men giving feasts, 
The sacred was the rehearsal 0 f the history of the kingdom of God. 
mysteries of the It is indeed difficult to disentangle the figure at times from 
the reality, and there are occasions when the spiritual is the 
real and the visible is blotted out. a I am the true vine,” said Jesus, 
“I am the water of life,” “ I am the living bread.” The curtain is ever 


THE YOUNGER SON . . . WASTl D HIS SUBSTANCE WITH RIOTOUS UVING. 

transparent, but it may drop at any moment and leave the spectator 
face to face with the eternal truths. The Gospel of Jesus, with all its 
light and grace, can be found in the parables, which remain the most 
beneficent assistants which style has afforded to thought. 

As an instrument of instruction in the hands of Jesus the parable 
had conspicuous advantages, and one that lies on the surface and is not 
to be despised. The parable interests, and although many learned and 
pious persons seem to consider it their duty to weary an audience, the 


And He Spake this Parable unto Them. 625 

first aim of our Lord was to win and to conciliate. It was His custom 
to pass from reason on to illustration, as one turns from the dusty beaten 
road into the fields. He came quite as quickly to his destination and 
distance was forgotten on account of the beauty of the way. Neither 
poetry nor pathos, neither eloquence nor argument will so surely catch the 
ear nor hold the attention as a tale. One may hazard the guess that as 
soon as the two first human beings realized themselves, and one another, 
Adam told Eve a story, and when the last two huddle themselves together 



BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW. 


on the frozen world they will tell the things which have been. It is with 
a story that childhood is soothed, with a story that the weary cares of all 
are relieved. There can be, indeed, no person whose mind will not respond 
to a scene in life, and whom truth dressed in human circumstances will 
not capture. 

As Jesus preaches, a panorama of life unfolds itself, ever illuminated 
with the inner light. We watch the farmer going down his field, throw- 
ing his seed from side to side, and the tiny pickles falling on the four 

40 


626 


And He Spake a Parable unto Them to this End. 


kinds of soil which divide between them human character. We detect the 
treacherous neighbor stealing through the field in the night time and 
sewing the evil seed of tares among the wheat. We stand on the lake 
shore as the fishermen draw in their net with toil and strain and separate 
the fluttering spoil into two heaps, the good and the bad. We admire the 
glitter of the goodly pearl in the merchant’s hand, and are concerned until 
he has secured it with a great price ; we are excited as the plow sticks 
on the buried treasure-chest, and the peasant tears open the 
words* of* lid. We follow with sympathetic interest the shepherd as he 
human travail see k s f or hi s lost s heep and the woman as she hunts for 

and aspirations. 1 

her lost coin. We are indignant at the Pharisee’s self- 
righteous prayer in the temple, and are vastly pleased when justice is 
done to the unmerciful servant. We also wait in the market place with 
the unemployed laborers, and approve the award given to the men who 
had made good use of their talents. Jesus calls us from the study to a 
busy life with man and in the midst of vivid, varied action we forget that 
we are being taught through deepest truths. 

The parable can also be used to convince, after the most felicitous 
fashion, because it wins the consent of reason without inflicting a defeat, 
and enlists the person on the side of truth without wounding his self- 
approbation. This is the method of Jesus in the inimitable parable of 
the prodigal son, and which is apologetic alike for Himself and His 
gospel. His critics complained that He should forsake the society of 
religious people, and actually lie in wait for sinners. They 
inferred that He was wrong in His ideas both of God and 
man. They hinted that His sympathy with sinners was 
suspicious and was hardly becoming in a prophet of religion. Jesus 
was conciliatory in His reply and declared His belief that they, conser- 
vative Pharisees though they were, would do as He had done if they 
only realized the situation. He then cast the situation, as He saw it, 
into parables, each of which could be verified in the life of the country 
side. Suppose that a shepherd, such a man, a substantial, respectable 
farmer was there, discovered that one was missing out of his hundred 
sheep when he counted the flock in the evening; would it be like a 


The critics of 
Jesus. 


I have Found the Piece which I had Lost. 


627 



sheep-owner to rest content with ninety and nine and to allow the lost 
one to perish? Every farmer present agreed that the idea was prepos- 
terous and it dawned upon him that to God a human soul was still 
more precious than a sheep. Imagine, and now Jesus passed on to 
another parable, that a woman, such a 
careful housewife was before His eyes, 
as she polished her necklace of silver 
coins, let one drop from her hand 
and, with the trickiness of a roll- 
ing coin, it hid itself in a dark 
corner. Why should she trouble 
herself with nine pieces 
safe? As it was, she 
never rested till she had 
turned the house upside 
down and found her 
tenth coin, and every 
peasant woman present iHHHH 
approved her action. 

And must not God suffer 
loss when a human soul 
passes from his pres- 
ence and vanishes in 
the darkness ? There 
was once a father, and 
Jesus now came near to the 
heart of more than one 
father, who had lost not a 
sheep, nor a coin, but 
a son, one of the two ~ 
who made his family. 

A son remained at home, somewhat hard, but industrious, respectable, 
obedient, and yet so greedy and sentimental is the father heart, this man 
was never satisfied till the wanderer returned from the far country. Here 


IF RICHES INCREASE, SET NOT YOUR 
HEART UPON THEM. 


628 



Rejoice with Me , for I have Found My Sheep. 

and there a gray beard among the Pharisees bent his head and surren- 
dered to the appeal. And God, has He not also a heart ? 

Jesus had not only to defend Himself against criticism, but also to 
strengthen His disciples against doubt, and again He cast His argument 
into parables with conspicuous success. Above all things He was anxious 
that His disciples should learn to pray with unwavering faith, and should 


always believe that they were heard by their Father in Heaven. They 
must be convinced upon grounds of reason that God could not be 
indifferent to the petitions of His children, and unto this end Jesus gave 
two of His most taking and ingenious parables. A guest arrives late 
one evening at a poor man’s house and the host has no bread for him. 
He betakes himself to a richer neighbor and explains his strait, but his 


AND WHEN HE HATH FOUND IT, HE EAYETH IT ON HIS SHOULDERS, REJOICING. 


Ther,e was in a City a Judge that Feared Not God. 629 



neighbor is lazy and disobliging. He will not rise from bed, nor disturb 
his household. Then his poor friend will take another method of per- 
suasion, and so, since this selfish householder will not listen to a courteous 
appeal, he must be treated to shameless importunity. A rain of blows 
falls upon the door which will allow no rest for anyone, and not through 
good will, but to secure peace, his 
churlish neighbor gives the poor 
man all he desires. He was a selfish 


SHE CAME UNTO HIM SAYING. AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY. 


man and he acted selfishly, and will not God, who is gracious, act 
graciously when he is besought by his friends? 

Again, a widow — the type of helplessness in the East — has been 
wronged by some powerful person and she desires redress from the judge 
of the district. It seems a hopeless case, as justice, could be , 

r 1 J Justice obtained 

bought and sold with impunity, and this was not only an through persSs- 

unjust man, but one so hard and brazen that, according to tency of appeal, 

his own shameless boast, he feared not God, neither regarded man. This 
clever woman had invented a plan of campaign for which the judge was 
certainly not prepared, and wherein a woman’s wit was victorious. Day 


630 Because this Widow Trouble th Me I will Avenge Her. 



after day she attended his court and made her complaint, so that the 
business of law was impeded ; daily she followed him on the street, 
explaining and beseeching, till it was an embarrassment for him to appear 
abroad, and he began to be afraid that this importunate woman would 
use her hands upon him. It might be better for him to grant her 
request, and so the widow triumphed over her adversary through the 
selfishness of this unprincipled judge. Will not God, who is not 
indifferent and unprincipled, consider the wrongs of his people and have 
them righted? The two mf parables have lost nothing, but have really 
gained much of their fJ force by the deli- 
cate humor with which / L , they are charged. 

The night picture of the sl ee py> 

surly house- 
holder ris- 
1 n g i n a 
rage, col- 
lecting all 
the bread 
he can lay his hands 
upon, opening the 
door with hot haste, 
thrusting the bread 
into his neighbor’s 
hands, and beseeching him for an 3^ sake to be gone, and the da}^ picture of 
the dignified judge, glancing furtively down the street to see whether the 
widow was lying in wait for him before he left his house, visibly quailing 
before her as she appeared in his court and trying with very poor success 
to look unconscious as he came home, followed by her appeals — make two 
companion studies in persistency which can never fade from the memory 
or fail to stimulate the mind. 

Jesus also uses the parable in order to excite the curiosity of his 
disciples and compel them to ask questions, since nothing is so stimu- 
lating to the intellect as a truth thrown into the form of a paradox. 
When he gave the parable of the tares and of the wheat, not only were 


THE BANDS OF THE WICKED HAVE ROBBED ME. 



His Enemy Came and Sowed Tares Among the Wheat. 631 

the disciples astonished, but the Christian Church has ever since been 
engaged in settling the meaning of His illustration. One would have 
imagined that nothing but good seed should be sown in the field, and 
it seems an outrage that anyone should sow tares in the midst of wheat. 


One also is apt to conclude that such a mixed field of wheat and tares cannot 
be the kingdom of God. It is not at all wonderful that the servants of the 
Master should have wished to go through the field and remove the tares, 
because we cannot imagine a Church which is partly good and which is 


GIVE THEM ACCORDING TO 
THEIR DEEDS. 


632 


A Sower Went Out to Sow His Seed . 


partly bad. What Jesus intended to teach was that His Church should be 
subject to the conditions of human life in this imperfect condition where 
the good and the bad are mixed together. When the disciples understood 
that a Church of perfectly good people was impossible in this 

Good intentions r 0 r r A 

often destroyed present state, they learned a lesson of charity, and they were 

by selfish also saved from the risk of unbelief. They would not be so 
actions. censorious in their judgments or so hasty in their discipline. 
Nor would they be staggered and lose faith because the Church of 
God came, in the meantime, so far short of the ideal. They would 
possess their souls in patience, believing that the good seed was bound 

to grow and that the other seed would, in the end, be removed from 

association with the good. With this parable Jesus also throws a light 
upon the problem of human character, reminding His disciples that there is 
no character of a single man wherein nothing can be found but good quali- 
ties, since even in the character of the best person, says St. John or St. 
Peter, tares of faults and the good seed of virtue grow side by side. Jesus 
also stimulates the imagination in this parable by casting the thoughts for- 
ward to the Judgment Day, when a separation between good and bad will be 
made, and He suggests the finality of character, when the tares are forever 
tares and the wheat is forever wheat, and the inevitable judgment which 
follows, since nothing remains for the tares but fire, and nothing will 
be done with the wheat but gathering it into the garners. 
As long as the Church lasts in her imperfection, this pro- 
found parable will save her from narrowness and exclusive- 
ness, and will also lay upon every one’s conscience the patent distinction 
between what is evil and what is good, and will fill the Church with hope 
as she thinks of the day of coming perfection. All these ends of charity 
and of righteousness, of faith and of hope, are served by this single 
striking parable. 

Perhaps the most puzzling and paradoxical parable ever given by our 
Master is that of the unjust steward, wherein Jesus seems to set a premium 
upon worldly shrewdness and worldly unscrupulousness. When Jesus 
makes the unjust steward come to secret terms with his master’s creditors 
and remit their debt in order that they may do Him kindness, He suggests 


Parable of the 
sower. 


Give an Account of thy Stewardship. 


633 


worldly 

ambitions. 


a line of conduct not only altogether outside the province of His teaching, 
but apparently in flat contradiction of the moral law. Just because it 
is so startling it provokes inquiry, and makes one enter into its meaning, 
in order to vindicate the ethical nature of Jesus’ teaching. 

0 A seeming 

What Jesus intended to impress upon His disciples was the injustice made 
necessity of foresight in the religious life, and He drew a to illustrate 
parallel, not between the dishonesty of the steward and a 
suggested dishonesty on the part of His disciples, but 
between the shrewdness of a worldly man in his own sphere and the 
carelessness of the religious man within his own sphere. As this steward 
bethought himself of the future, and the expediency of obtaining a pro- 
vision for himself in the years to come, so the disciple of Jesus must 
anticipate the greater life beyond the grave, and so regulate his life here 
that after he leaves this world, he shall begin the life to come with every 
advantage. As the steward made friends of his master’s creditors, with 
the mammon of unrighteousness, so must the disciples of the Lord make 
for themselves heavenly friends by the means of righteousness. What 
they possess in this world they must use so as to possess everlasting 
life, changing passing riches into the riches which cannot pass away. 
Their wisdom is to send on their goods before, so that when they leave 
their present tents of the earthly pilgrimage, they may find on the other 
side everlasting habitations. No one can read this parable without being 
arrested, no one can leave this parable without being sure 

Who may inherit 

that Jesus did not mean to teach knavery, and when he has thc Kingdom> 
satisfied himself about the point which Jesus had in His 
mind, he has unconsciously learned the profound lesson of this ironical 
parable. Jesus was pleased sometimes to use humor in His parable, and 
on this occasion as well as on certain others He employed the stronger 
and still more lasting instrument of irony. And teachers will often use 
paradoxes to arouse debate and compel inquiry, so that pupils contradicting 
what appears to have been said, will arrive at the truth which was 
intended. 

Jesus was also able, by his affluent use of the parable, to create a 
horizon for the kingdom of God, and so to inspire the hearts of His 


634 


And the Lord Commended the Unjust Servant. 



disciples with pride and with hope. What their eyes saw was a humble 
society of Galilean peasants who had gathered themselves together round 
r Tesus and who were trying to keep the Sermon on the 
God established Mount. What He wished them to see by faith was a 
in receptive kingdom which should extend from the rising to the setting 
sun and embrace all nations of the human race beyond the 
farthest hope of the Hebrew prophet. What they saw with their eyes 
were a few extremely imperfect people constantly falling into mistakes 
and often overtaken by faults. What was yet to be was a body of men 

and women whose minds 
were filled with the light 
of Truth, and who had 
risen to the perfect like- 
ness of the Master. This 
was the hope which Jesus 
taught in the parable 
where he compared his 
kingdom to leaven which 
has been introduced from 
the outside into 
human nature and 
which will gradu- 
ally progress 
until it has con- 
quered and as- 
similated every 
part of that 
nature, both 
mental and 
moral. Dur- 
ing this pro- 
cess, there is 

l'HE RICH MAN AESO , j , 

died and was bound to be 

^ BURIED - action and 


The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Grain of Mustard Seed . 635 

reaction. The process will be for a long time hidden and it will also be 
slow, but the end is perfectly certain, since sooner or later every particle 
will be overtaken with leaven. This parable shows how the kingdom of 
God conies within a soul, and the companion parable, which 

r 7 The parable of 

is the parable of the mustard seed, shows how the kingdom the mustard 
of God grows in the world. No beginning of any institu- 
tion could be more insignificant than the company of Jesus’ disciples ; 
it was surely the least of all seeds. Within every seed, however, is a 
certain vitality, and when a seed is sown it is bound to grow. The 
kingdom of God has been sown in the prepared soil of the human race, 
and upon that seed would fall the showers of Heaven and the sunshine 
of Divine favor. When it appeared above the ground it might only be 
a speck of green, but as the years came and went the little plant would 
rise and spread itself till at last it became a tree, in which the birds of the 
air would take refuge. 

Very likely the disciples had the poorest idea of the future of Christ’s 
kingdom, and to-day there are none who foresee its coming greatness, but 
with the centuries behind us the prophecy of Jesus has already been 
justified. There is a note of hope and a vision of glory in all the parables 
of Jesus Christ. The field is ever with Him the world. 

Visions of glory 

Kings give feasts to the poor of the earth. We have the g row ing out of 
joy of the marriage feast, and the blessing of the harvest, the parables of 
History is full of grace and of triumph and moves onward to 
a splendid completion. Difficulties and perplexity only whet faith, and the 
strange silence and mysterious providences of God only conceal His larger 
loving kindness. Whatever may be the conflict between good and evil, 
and however long evil may contend with good, the issue of the conflict is 
perfectly certain. All that Jesus ever hoped and all that Jesus ever desired 
for His disciples and for the human race will be fulfilled. For the parables 
deal with all the conflicts of the kingdom and of the individual life, but the 
parables point forward to the age of gold. They are an exposition and a 
vindication, they are also a prophecy and a vision of glory. 









yv'4\vrc 


. 






CHAPTER VI. 


A nd He called the twelve and sent them forth two by two. 



|j ESUS now made a third circuit of Galilee, each time the 
crowds which followed Him becoming greater. “ He went 
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their syna- 
gogues, and preached the gospel of the kingdom, and 
healing every sickness and every disease among the peo- 
ple. The multitude, drawn from every part of Judea, 
now became so large that He could not talk to all of 
them, the sea of faces growing every day like waves from 
a disturbed lake running from a common centre, until 
His voice fell short of the outer circle. To reach all 
who were thirsting for knowledge, therefore, Christ told His disciples 
to go out and preach the word to all people. He had found a ful- 
fillment of His prophecy made to His disciples at Sychar ; the spirit- 
ual harvest had become too great for the laborers. So, 

0 7 Jesus sends 

after bidding them to pray the Lord to send forth more His disciples to 

laborers, He commissioned them for their work and sent preach the 

them forth, two by two, to preach. To them He gave 
power to cast out devils, heal diseases, and bind up wounds. But He 
charged them not to go among the Gentiles or Samaritans, whose stub- 
born resistance to God made them like seed sown among thorns, and He 
also bade them to take neither purse, scrip nor changes of raiment, nor 
to abide two nights in any man’s house, but to rely upon God for their 
protection. Thus would they be in constant remembrance of their mis- 
sion, and not be drawn away from the object for which they were called, 
by temptations of selfish interest. Following these instructions the 
apostles went through the towns “ preaching the gospel everywhere.” 
* (637) 


6 3 8 


They that had Eaten were About Five Thousand. 

“ They cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, 
and healed them.” 

About this time news came to Jesus that Herod Antipas, hearing of 
his wonderful teachings and miracles, and believing Him to be the risen 
Herod believes J°hn whom he had so foully caused to be murdered at the 
Jesus to be solicitation of Herodius, resolved to visit Him. Jesus knew 
the risen John. ^ ow rankled in the breast of Herod a jealousy which was 
seeking vengeance upon His head, and to avoid meeting the king He 
withdrew by ship with His disciples into “ a lonely place.” Whither He 
went we are not told, but most probably He retired, as He had frequently 
done before, to some sequestered spot where He might pour out His soul 
in prayer, and where He might talk confidentially with His disciples and 
arm them against the snares laid for their destruction as well as for 
His own. He was not long in solitude, however, for the multitude 
sought Him by day and night, giving themselves neither rest nor food, 
and scouring all the lakeside retreats until He was discovered near the 
town of Bethsaida. But by this time the long fast to which, in their 
excitement, they had been subjected, began to tell on them, and there 
was a cry set up for food. The disciples now asked Jesus to send the 
crowd away to the towns nearest by, where they might procure food and 
lodging, but He said to them, “ Give ye them to eat.” 

At this command the disciples were much surprised, for they assured 
him that all the food at hand was only five loaves of bread and two small 
Miraculous fishes, with which to feed the multitude that numbered five 
feast of the thousand persons. But Jesus knew all this. He ordered 

multitude. them, nevertheless, to divide the crowd into fifties and make 
them sit down in companies ; the order being obeyed, Jesus took up a 
basket containing the loaves and fishes, and first offering a blessing for 

the feast, He com- 
menced to divide 
the bread and 
fishes, and gave 
the disciples to 
set before the 



Take Heed and Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees . 639 

multitude. Though piece after piece was given yet the supply did not 
diminish, until at length all that were present had eaten their fill and 
scattered so much food besides on the ground that when the feast was 
concluded, twelve baskets of fragments of bread and fishes were gathered up. 

At the time of this miraculous feast the Passover was being cele- 
brated at Jerusalem, which Jesus did not attend because of fears, which 
He very properly entertained, of Herod, Pilate, and the Jewish rulers, 
who, while acknowledging His miracles, were vehement in their declara- 
tions that it was through the power of Beelzebub alone He operated. 
The miracle of feeding the people, therefore, possessed a double signifi- 
cance, for, while giving the multitude this heaven-descended food in the 
desert, the brethren at Jerusalem were eating unleavened bread of 
human manufacture. The distinction between the observance in Jerusalem 
and the works which were made perfect through Jesus, was revealed in 
a subsequent discourse where He showed Himself to be the true bread 
of life that had come down from heaven. 

After feeding the multitude Jesus sent them away, and ordered His 
disciples to get into a boat and cross over to the other side of the lake, 
while he went apart by himself to pray. It is very affecting Thc peop | C 
to observe how, the more Christ multiplied miracles before would make 
His Galilean followers, the further they were from receiving J csus k,n e* 
His spiritual teachings. The personal benefits they had now so long 
been in the habit of receiving came to be everything to them ; and the 
witness which the works bore to Christ was only valued as exciting 
selfish hopes in them. It was to see and to profit by more miracles 
that they ran after Him round the lake ; and this last wonder of His 
feeding five thousand men, besides women and children, with five barley 
loaves, and two small fishes, leaving twelve baskets of fragments to be 
gathered up, while it convinced them that he was the prophet predicted 
by Moses, excited proud hopes of independence instead of humble faith 
in Him, and they were ready to take Him by force and make Him 
king. On this first mention of such a design, we may well consider what 
it involved. It was no offer of a peaceful succession, made by a united 
people. With Judea governed by a Roman procurator, and Galilee held 



also, though made through them. History furnishes memorable examples 
of how hard such an offer is to refuse ; and that there was a real conflict 
in our Saviour’s mind is proved by His departing alone into a mountain 
to pray. But first, while He sent away the people, the disciples, who, 
we may be quite sure, were ready to take the same part, were directed 
not without great reluctance, to cross Gennesaret to Bethsaida. 

In the lonely watches of the night that followed, Jesus was on the 
mountain, praying for guidance from the Heavenly Father as to how He 


640 He Went Up Into a Mountain Apart to Pray . 

by Herod at the pleasure of the emperor — with factions among the Jews 
themselves ready to support the Idumean dynasty, and even to cry out, 
“ We have no king but Caesar ” — His consent would have been the signal 
for a war such as burst out under Nero. And here we may doubtless see 
one of those occasions in which Jesus Himself was tempted, though 
without sin. The people of Galilee repeated the offer which Satan had 
made on the Mount of Temptation ; and from Satan it came this time 


SHE BESOUGHT HIM THAT HE WOUED CAST FORTH THE DEVIE OUT OF HER DAUGHTER. — Mark 7. 26. 


Jesus Went Unto Them Walking on the Sea . 


641 



should best act for the establishing of God’s kingdom on earth. From 
the eminence of His position He looked out upon the sea and watched the 
tossing bark in which were his disciples, until toward midnight. A storm 
had now come up which 
grew rapidly portentous of 
evil, until the disci- 
ples were in danger 
of being wreck- 
ed ; to still their 
fears, and bring 
to their minds 
the assurance 
of His con- 
stant care and 
Jesus went out to them walk- 
ing on the angry waves. 

Amid the lightning flashes 
the disciples discerned the 
form of a man approaching, 
and seeing that he trod the 
sea as though walking upon 
firm ground, they believed it 
was a spirit and their fears 
were intensified by what they 
conceived to be a premonition 
of destruction. But to their 
cries of despondency Jesus 
answered with reassuring 
words, “ Be of good cheer ; 
it is I. Be not afraid.” Re- 
luctant to credit their own eyes, Peter desired a proof that it was indeed 
Jesus, and he therefore cried out : “ Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come 
unto Thee on the water.” To which request Jesus responded by stretching 
out His hands and saying: “Come.” “And when Peter was come down 


protection, 


AND THERE CAME A CERTAIN POOR WIDOW, 
THREW IN TWO MITES.— Mark 12. 42. 


41 


642 They . . . Brought Unto Him All That Were Diseased. 

out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he 
saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid ; and beginning to sink, he cried, 
saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, 
jesus walks and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, 
on the sea. wherefore didst thou doubt ? And when they were come 
into the ship the wind ceased ; then they that were in the ship came and 
worshiped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.” 

u And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gen- 
nesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they 
sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that 
were diseased ; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of 
His garment ; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” 

When the multitude which Jesus had dismissed had sought for Him a 
long while, they took shipping and came to Capernaum, where they were 
The true rejoiced to find Him again teaching and healing the sick, 
bread of Life. Their first words manifested the surprise which they felt at 
seeing Him on the other side of the lake, not understanding by what means 
He had come across, though possibly conceiving that His transportation had 
been effected by some miracle. To their inquiry, “ Master, when (or how) 
earnest thou hither?” Jesus replied by rebuking them for their selfish 
interest which prompted them to seek Him. Said He, “ Verily, ye seek Me, 
not because ye love Me, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. 
Labor not for the meat (food) which perisheth, but for that meat that 
endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you.” 

The people did not understand the true meaning of His words, but 
influenced alone by their carnal natures, they construed His declaration 
to mean that He could give them bread which would fortify their bodies 
against death, hence they besought Him with great eagerness to give 
them this wondrous life renewing food. But to this request Jesus replied 
by saying: “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never 
hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. . . . And 

this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, 
and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life ; and I will raise him 
up at the last day.” 


Why Reason Ye Among Yourselves ? 


643 



Upon hearing Him declare Himself to be u the bread of life,” the 
Jews were very angry and asked one another, u Is not this Jesus, the 
son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” To these murmur- 
ings Jesus answered by repeating His declaration, and by reminding 
them that though their forefathers were fed in the wilderness by manna 

sent them from heaven, yet this food 
did not prolong the period 
of their natural lives ; but 


AND SHE HAD A SISTER CALLED 
MARY, WHICH ALSO SAT AT JESUS’ 
FEET. — Luke 10. 39. 


that “ the 

living bread ” which 
He now offered them 
was the spirit of per- 
fect righteousness 
made manifest in 
Himself. “ I am the living bread come down from heaven ; if any man 
eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give is 
My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” To their obtuse 
understanding the words of Jesus were an enigma, but they chose to 
construe His sayings literally, and argued among themselves, saying, 
“ How can this man give us His flesh to eat ? ” But to make their surprise 


644 


This is My Blood of the New Testament. 



even greater Jesus answered them: “Verily, I say unto you, except ye 
eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in 
Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life ; I 


you. 


will raise him up at 
meat indeed, and My 
deed. He that eateth 


the last day. For My flesh is 
blood is drink in- 
My flesh and drink- 
eth My blood, 
dwelleth in Me and 
I in him.” 

Not only were 
the people confounded by 
His declarations, but 
even the disciples were puz- 
zled, and unable to discover 
the true meaning of His 
words, asking among themselves : 
“ This is a hard saying ; who can 
hear (understand) it?” Though 
clothed in the character of a symbol, 
the true meaning of his words is so 
apparent that we are astonished 
at the simpleness of His 
hearers, though, singular 
enough, the question then 
raised as to the verity of the 
use of Christ’s real blood and 
flesh has caused infinite 
tears and suffering. In one 
period of church domination 
it was esteemed a capital offence to deny that, in celebrating the 
Eucharist, the wine offered was not the real blood of Jesus, and that the 
unleavened bread administered was not His real flesh. Men have been 
burned at the stake for declaring that this wine and bread was but the 
symbol of Christ’s blood and flesh, and represented His spiritual essence. 


. . AND SET HIM ON HIS OWN BEAST. 
—Luke lo. 33, 34. 


The Scribes Sought How They Might Take Him by Craft. 645 


When Jesus saw that His disciples were averse to an acceptance of 
the spiritual doctrine, so manifest under the symbol which He gave 
them, He rebuked their shallowness of heart and mind and plainly 
declared to them that there were some among them harboring an 
unbelief. This was quickly proved by several of the disciples deserting 
Him, until only twelve remained faithful. But among this remnant 
Jesus knew there was still one whom He could not rely on for faithful- 
ness, and in speaking to the twelve He warns them that “ one of them 
had a devil,” evidently alluding, by prophetic foresight, to the treason 
of Judas Iscariot. 

Among the followers of Jesus during these ministrations we have 
repeated mention of “the Jews,” a term which, in the records of His 
controversial teachings, generally denotes the leaders of the a conspiracy at 
two great parties, and more especially the Pharisees and the Passover, 
scribes, for the Sadducees seem as yet to have regarded the new teacher 
with scornful indifference. Many of these came from Jerusalem and 
Judea expressly to watch Him; and their hatred must have been 
inflamed afresh by such teachings as that just related. The words of 
St. John imply that a new conspiracy against Jesus was formed by the 
rulers at this Passover, for which reason He remained in Galilee six 
months longer, till the Feast of Tabernacles. Disappointed by His 
absence, more of the scribes and Pharisees went to meet Him on His 
own ground ; and their fault-finding gave him the opportunity of 
denouncing their own traditions, by which they annulled the spirit of 
the law, while adding to its burdensome obligations. 

Upon departing from the eastern side of Lake Tiberias, Jesus went 
up the Jordan, followed by His disciples, until He reached the source of 
that stream at Caesarea Philippi. On the way, however, He Jesus predjcts 
stopped for a while at Bethsaida, and signalized His short His own 
stay there by miraculously restoring the sight and speech 
of a blind mute. It was at Caesarea Philippi that Peter 
first hailed him as Christ, the Son of God, and where Jesus first spoke 
to His disciples of laying the foundation for His Church in the hearts 
and affections of His true followers. “From this time forth began Jesus 


death and 
resurrection. 


646 


Thou Savorest Not the Things That Be of God. 


to show unto His disciples how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and 
suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be 
killed, and be raised again the third day.” When Peter had heard Jesus 
utter this gloomy prediction, his heart sank with fear, and he sought to 

prevail on the Lord to forego His de- 
termination of going up to Jerusalem, 
where His life would be in such 
great danger. But Jesus recogniz- 
ing in Peter’s appeal a new tempta- 
tion, said, “ Get thee behind Me, 
Satan,” following His command with 
an explanation that in doing the will 
of God He must not consult 
the weakness of the flesh, as men 
do who regard only their own 
comforts, but must be willing to 
suffer for righteousness’ sake, saying, 
“ If any man will come after Me, let 
him deny himself, and take up his 
cross and follow Me. For whosoever 
will save his life shall lose it, and 
whosoever will lose his life for My 
sake shall find it. For what is a 
man profited, if he shall gain the 
whole world and lose his own soul.” 

Six days after this conversation, 
Jesus called three of His favorite 
disciples, John, Peter and James, and 
and . . jesus . . . was transfigured before led them to the top of a high moun- 

THEM.— Matt. 17. 1, 2. . .. m 

tain, possibly Mount Tabor, but cer- 
tainly near Caesarea Philippi, where He gave them to behold a vision 
of His heavenly glory. Upon reaching the lofty peak, in the oppressive 
stillness of nature, which perpetually reigned there, Christ bowed Himself 
in prayer What that prayer was we are left to imagine, but this is not 



A Bright Cloud Overshadowed Them , and Behold a Voice. 647 

difficult, for already He was under the ban of a mortal prejudice and 
almost beneath the shadow of the cross. Already He knew that His 
betrayal was near at hand, and we may therefore well suppose that His 
prayer was — not for strength or courage to bear His sufferings, The transfigura- 
or for deliverance from a terrible death — for Divine compassion tion of J esus - 
upon His enemies, and for the remission of the sins of those whose hearts 
had rejected Him. And as He thus prayed His face and clothing suddenly 
became illuminated, as if He were clad in burnished armor, upon which 
the sun reflected a dazzling splendor. As He thus stood, radiant with 
glory, there appeared, to the astonished gaze of His disciples, the spirit 
forms of Moses and Elias and they talked with Jesus, while from out a 
bright cloud that hovered over their heads came a sweet voice saying, 
“ This is My beloved Son ; hear ye Him.” Carried away with excite- 
ment and righteous fervor at beholding so glorious a vision, Peter said 
to Jesus, “It is good for us to be here ; and let us make three taber- 
nacles (as it had long been the custom among the Israelites to designate 
holy ground by the building of a memorial of some kind thereon), one 
for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias.” But as Peter was thus 
speaking the beautiful vision disappeared, and Jesus told His disciples to 
return to the multitude below that was waiting their coming, but He 
charged them particularly to tell no one of what they had beheld on the 
mountain top “till the Son of Man were risen from the dead.” This 
request they could not understand, for they did not yet know that He 
would be resurrected on the third day after His death, nor did they, 
probably, fully believe that He would be offered up after the manner of 
His own prediction. As Jesus and His three disciples came down from the 
mountain they observed a large multitude of people, who were deriding and 
scorning the nine disciples that had been left behind. But the people left 
off their abuse as they beheld Jesus approaching, and saluted Him respect- 
fully. Perceiving that there was some disturbance, Jesus asked the scribes 
the cause, whereupon, before they could make answer, a man spoke, saying : 
“ Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; he 
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away : and I spake to 
Thy disciples that they should cast him out ; and they could not.” 


648 


Lord , Have Mercy on My Son , /<?r //<? w Lunatic. 


Jesus had before sent out His disciples to preach to all people, and 
had given to them the power to cast out devils and heal all kinds of 

_ . ... . , sickness in His name, but here, almost at the outset of their 

The disciples 

rebuked for labors, nine of these disciples had failed utterly in an 

their lack attempt to manifest the power bestowed, and, as a conse- 

quence, they had been made subjects for ridicule by haughty 
scribes and jealous Pharisees. Jesus was not indifferent to the abuse that 
was directed against His disciples, but He felt that it was in a large 
measure deserved, for He knew that their failure was due entirely to the 
faithlessness of the people and the lack of conviction in the disciples 
themselves. 

Since this result was a reflection upon his own nature and power, 
we cannot wonder that He was chagrined. For this reason He 
answered the father of the lunatic by a general remark to the whole mul- 
titude, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you ? How long 
shall I suffer you ? Bring him unto Me.” When the afflicted son was 
brought into the divine presence he fell to wallowing on the ground, 
foaming at the mouth and presenting a shocking, but pitiful spectacle. 
When Jesus asked how long the young man had been thus afflicted the 
father answered that he had been so since a young child ; that in his 
paroxysms he had often thrown himself into the fire, and into water as 
well, in his efforts to destroy himself. Jesus was much affected by the 
sight of the poor lunatic, and no less by the father who besought Him so 
earnestly for compassion on the sufferer. To inspire him first with hope, 
Jesus said, “ If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that 
believeth.” Though not so fully assuring, the fond father grasped at 
this small promise,* and in the emotions of mingled fear, hope and desire 
he cried out amidst a flood of tears, “ Lord, I believe : help Thou 
mine unbelief.” The crowd came now running and pressing 

Jesus restores 1 

a lunatic. about Jesus, before whom He spoke to the lunatic and drove 
out the distemper of brain which vexed him. Immediately 
the sufferer fell again upon the ground and there lay as one dead, until 
many believed that his life was truly destroyed, for he neither moved nor 
gave any signs of life whatever. But when he had thus lain for a time 



The Son of Man Shall be Betrayed into the Hands of Men . 649 

Jesus took the young man by the hand and lifting him up, with gracious 
words, returned him to his overjoyed father sound in mind. 

After this miracle Jesus departed with His disciples and passed 
through Galilee by night, lest He might be taken by His enemies. 
During this journey He again told His disciples that He would soon be 
delivered into the hands of men who 
would kill Him, but that after lying 


I HAVE BROUGHT UNTO THEE MY SON, WHICH ' 7:; 

HATH A DUMB SPIRIT.— Mark 9. 17. , . ' 

\ v ' ; ' \ ' v 

dead for three days He would rise again. His disciples, however, did not 

understand the meaning of His words, but were afraid to ask Him for an 

explanation. 

As they journeyed together toward Persea, another portion of Judea,, 
north of Galilee, and from thence to Jerusalem, to attend the Feast of 
Tabernacles, the disciples questioned Jesus on man} I * * * * * 7 things important for 
them to know as preachers of the gospel. Among other questions which 


650 Whoso Shall Receive One Such Little Child . . . Receiveth Me . 

they asked was : “ Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven ? 79 
To make His answer more plain to their poor understanding, Jesus called 
a little child, and placing it in their midst, told them that little children 

who is were greatest in His Father’s kingdom, for in the infant 
greatest in God’s there is no sin ; therefore, said He, unless ye be con- 
kingdom? V erted and become as blameless as little children, you 
cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. “ Take heed, therefore, that ye 
despise not one of these little ones ; for I say unto you, that in heaven 
their angels do always behold the face of My Father.” The care of the 
Father for His children Jesus thus illustrated by citing a parable of the 
lost sheep : “If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be 
gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the 
mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray ? And if so be that 
he find it, verily, I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep than 
of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so, it is not the 
will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones 
should perish.” 

Jesus sought to teach His disciples humility by comparing them with 
little children whose hearts have not yet become corrupted by evils and 
temptations common to the worldly-minded ; but He did not neglect the 
opportunity to give them practical instruction in their duties toward their 
fellow-men, and what should be their conduct when assailed by wrongs, 
calumnies and oppressions. He exhorted them to bear with meekness all 
the faults of others, and not to attempt by violence the correction of any 
sin, since it is better to bear a wrong than to take in our own hands the 
punishment of the wrong-doer. This advice prompted Peter to ask : 
a Lord, how oft shall my brother (fellow-man) sin against me, and I for- 
give him? Seven times?” “ Yes,” said Jesus, “not only seven times, 
but seventy times seven.” In other words, that we should place no limit 
upon our pardon. 

To illustrate more clearly the practical benefits of charity for the 
faults of others, Jesus gave to His disciples the following parable : A 
certain king, on taking account of the debts that were due him, found 
that one of his subjects had been owing him, for a long time, a large 




652 The Kingdom of Heaven is Likened unto a Certain King. 

sum of money which he seemed to have made no effort to pay. Enraged 
at the dishonesty of the man, the king commanded that the delinquent, 
together with all his family, be immediately sold, and the proceeds applied 
Parable of the to the payment of the debt. When the debtor was thus brought 
generous king. a condition of threatened slavery, he fell down upon his knees 
before the king and, with tears and entreaties, besought his sovereign to 
have patience a little while longer, and to spare his family, for their sake, 
the horrors of enslavement, promising to pay the debt in a short while, if 
his freedom were not taken away. So strong and heart-movfng were the 
poor man’s pleadings that the king’s compassion was excited, and he not 
only gave the debtor his liberty, but canceled the debt also. Soon after, the 
forgiven debtor went out and met a fellow-man who owed him a sum of 
money not above two dollars. Seizing the authority which every creditor 
then had, this man who had so recently been the recipient of the king’s 
bounty and compassion, laid violent hands upon the throat of his debtor 
and sought to force immediate payment of the two dollars. The man fell 
upon his knees and begged for compassion with entreaties quite as moving 
as the first had uttered to the king, but with different effect, for the hard- 
hearted wretch stifled the pleadings of his victim and carried him away to 
prison, there to languish until the debt was paid. The harsh conduct of the 
unforgiving creditor was presently known to the king, who at once sent for 
him and said, “ O thou wicked man ; I forgave the debt which you owed 
me, because you begged so earnestly for yourself and family, and I had a 
belief that in your heart there was some honor and charity ; but almost at 
once upon your release you condemn one of your fellow-men to the hardest 
punishment because he could not pay you the smallest debt.” So saying, 
the king delivered the man over to the tormentors until he should pay all 
the large debt which had been canceled. 

“So likewise,” said Jesus, “shall My Heavenly Father do also unto 
you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their tres- 
passes.” 

As Jesus and His disciples continued on their journey toward 
Jerusalem, they came in the evening time to a Samaritan village and 
sought shelter for the night, but the Samaritans, knowing them to be 


There Met Him Ten Men that were Lepers. 


653 



Jews, denied them entertainment, on which account the disciples became 
very angry. James and John were particularly vehement in their denun- 
ciation of the Samaritans, their anger being increased by Healing the ten 
the natural hatred which existed between the Jews and lepers. 
Samaritans, and they asked permission of Jesus to call down fire from 
heaven to destroy those who had denied them entertainment. But Jesus 
rebuked them soundly for their vengeful dispo- 
sitions, and gave them to understand that His 
mission on earth was not to destroy men, but 
to save them. So they 
turned away from the 
place where they had 
been refused enter- 
tainment, and went 
on toward another 
village. As they 
were thus pro- 
ceeding on their 
way they met ten 
men who were all 
afflicted with lep- 
rosy. This dis- 
ease was so loath- 
some that those who 
contracted it were 
not permitted to as- 
sociate with the 

healthy, and were TO WHOM YE forgive any thing, i forgive ai^so — 2 cor. 2. 10. 

compelled to remain 

isolated from all other persons, not excepting even their kindred. 

Therefore, before Jesus had approached very near to them, they drew 
off and cried out : “ Jesus, Master, have mercy on us,” evidently recognizing 
Him either intuitively, or from having beheld Him at some of the towns 
in Samaria during His visits to and miracles in that country. To the 


654 Arise , Go Thy Way ; Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole. 



cry of the poor lepers Jesus returned answer : “ Go, show yourselves to 
the priests.” This order was in fulfillment of the command given by 
Moses, who ordered that whenever a leper was healed he should go and 
show himself to the priest, that he might have permission to associate 

again among the peo- 
ple who were well. 

As the ten lepers 
started away they 
discovered that they 
had been suddenly 
cured of their afflic- 
tion ; only one of 
them, however, re- 
turned to give thanks 
to Jesus for the bene- 
fits He had miracu- 
lously con- 
ferred, and 
this one was 
a Samar- 
itan. Infer- 
ence, from 
the text, 
leads to the 
belief that the other nine 
were Jews, but they has- 
tened away without so much as uttering 
thanks for their restoration, and thus 

WHAT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE rAV • , •» -1 , , TT . 1 . .- 

world and lose his own soul -M ark s. 36. was Christ able to show to His disciples 

that a good deed was not to be measured 

by popular prejudices, but that His mission was to do good to all people, 
regardless of race, creed or condition. 

The feeling against Jesus, in all the region about Jerusalem, was so 
intensely bitter, that to escape His enemies, who were setting snares for 




Behold , the Kingdom of God is Within You . 655 

His feet, He left His disciples and traveled by a secret way for a short 
while, until suddenly he appeared in the Temple during the Feast of 
Tabernacles. Here were assembled so many of His friends jesus discourses 
that even the officers dared not lay their hands upon Him. of spiritual life. 
When the congregation had gathered, there were so many anxious to hear 
Jesus that He consented to talk to them, and thereupon delivered to them a 
wise discourse, though not in such words as were easily understood by a 
majority of those present. He told them that His stay on earth would 
soon be ended, and that it was nearly time for Him to return to the 
Father that had sent Him. “After I am gone,” said He, “ you will look 
for Me, but will not find Me, and where I go you cannot come.” To 
those who believed on Him He gave the glorious promise of eternal life, 
but those who believed not He declared should die in their sins. 

The Pharisees contended with Him and denied that He had power to 
bestow eternal life, for, said they, “ Did not Abraham and all the other 
righteous prophets die, and do you consider yourself greater than they ? ” 
But Jesus explained to them that the life which He had power to bestow 
was not the life in the body, but in the soul ; that spiritual life which 
endureth in heaven, and which dwelleth evermore with God. The Jews, 
however, were not pleased with His reply, and being angered at His preten- 
sions would have stoned Him, had He not passed out from them. 

Again there was a certain lawyer, appointed probably by the Phari- 
sees, to ask questions, who came to Jesus and said, “Master, what must I 
do to inherit eternal life?” To which Jesus answered, Parable of the 
“What is written in the law?” “Thou shalt love the Lord good Samaritan, 
thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus said, 
“ Thou hast answered right; this do and thou shalt live.” 

“But,” asked the lawyer, “who is my neighbor?” Whereupon Jesus 
answered him by relating the parable of the good Samaritan : A certain 
man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which 
stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him 
half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way ; 
and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a 
Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him and passed 



SHE HAD A SISTER CALEED MARY, WHICH ALSO SAT AT JESUS’ FEET AND HEARD HIS WORD. — 
(656) St. Euke 10. 39. 


A Certain Woman Named Mary Received Him in Her House. 657 

by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came 
where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and 
went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set 
him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave 
them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him ; and whatsoever 
thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. Which now 
of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among 
thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus 
unto him, Go, and do thou likewise, for all men are our neighbors and 
our duty is to help all mankind, since we are as one in the Lord. 

When Jesus left Jerusalem He went to Bethany, less than a day’s 
journey toward the east, where He was invited by a woman, named 
Martha, to her house that she might receive His counsel. Martha and 
When the Lord came to the house, Mary, a sister of Martha, Mary, 
received Him, and sitting down at His feet, besought Him to teach her 
how she might do His will and become entitled to a share in the joys 
promised the faithful. So engrossed was Mary in a delightful conver- 
sation with Jesus that she forgot her duties in the household, so that 
the preparation for supper was left wholly with her elder sister. Some- 
what vexed at this, Martha came in and, rebuking Mary, said also to 
Jesus, “Lord, dost Thou not care that Mary hath left me to do all the 
work alone ? Bid her, therefore, that she come and help me.” But Jesus 
answered by counseling her not to trouble about the household work, 
when there were other matters of more importance requiring her attention. 
The concern of her soul was the better part chosen by Mary, and this 
care would bring her due reward, for there is consolation in that which 
can never be taken away. 

After this, and before leaving the neighborhood of Jerusalem, Jesus 
chose seventy disciples in addition to the twelve first appointed, and sent 
them out to preach the gospel, giving them the power to our Lord’s 
perform miracles and to do all things in His name. Before prayer, 
going away, however, they asked Him what manner of prayer they should 
offer to receive the Holy Spirit, to which He answered, Thou shouldst 


42 


658 Lord , Teach Us to Pray , <25 John Also Taught His Disciples. 



pray after this manner: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 
Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in 
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temp- 
tation ; but deliver us from evil, for Thine 
is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory, forever. Amen.” 

He admonished them against pray- 
ing like the Pharisees, who sought the 
most public places and lifted up 
their voices to such a pitch as to 

attract the 
attention 
of all who 
might be near, for 
this was to gain 
the favor of man 
rather than of 
God. Th erefore 
He bade them to 
retire into some 
secret place when 
they wished to 
pray, that their 
minds might be concentrated upon God, whose 
favor alone it was becoming to desire. From 
the text, although there is no pretension to 
sequence in the records of His works, it would 
appear that Jesus returned to Jerusalem from Bethany, and that He 
again discoursed in the Temple. His teachings continued to attract 
and favorably influence the masses, which served to increase the jealousy 
of the Pharisees and scribes, who perceived their own power waning 
and passing to Christ. Afraid to wreak the vengeance upon Him 


FAI.EING DOWN ON HIS FACE HE WIDE 
WORSHIP GOD.— 1 Cor. 14. 25. 



mandment. Making their accusation against her, they reminded Him 
that the law of Moses required that such an offence be punished by 
stoning the offender, and they asked Him to pronounce judgment. The 
snare in which they hoped to catch Him lay in the fact that, though 
a violation of the commandment was punishable under the Mosaic law 
with death by stoning, yet the law had always remained a dead letter, 
with a very few exceptions during the wanderings in the wilderness. 
Hence, had Christ insisted on an enforcement of the law now, He must 


Moses in the Law Commanded Us , That Such Should be Stoned. 659 

which they had harbored in their hearts, on account of the number 
of His friends in the assemblage, they tried to catch Him in technical 
violations of the Mosaic law and thus hold Him up to The p harisees 
the people as a blasphemer, and unworthy of the influ- attempt to 
ence which He exerted. Thus, while He was teaching in cntrap J esus * 
the Temple one morning, His enemies brought to Him for judgment a 
woman who had been caught in the act forbidden by the seventh com- 


HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU, UET HIM FIRST CAST A STONE AT HER. — St. John 8. 7. 


660 Jesus was Left Alone , and the Woman Standing in the Midst. 

have incurred public odium for rendering so harsh a judgment, while to 
decide otherwise would subject Him to censure as one who disregarded, 
or held in contempt, the Mosaic law, which would lay Him under the ban 
of blasphemy. 

But between these two dangers Jesus was able to steer with con- 
summate adroitness, without infringing the law or subjecting Himself to 
Let him who is criticism for harshness. Stooping down, He wrote with His 
sinless cast finger upon the ground, in the Temple court, the law of 
the first stone. y[ OSQS applicable to the case before Him, after which He 
rose up and said, u He that is without sin among you, let him cast the 

first stone.” This same law which condemned the guilty to death, 

required the witnesses of the act to cast the first stones, but in the 
present case the accusers had themselves so frequently violated the same 
law that they felt the quiet rebuke which Christ had given them and 
slunk away. When they had all gone away abashed with confusion, Jesus 
turned to the woman and asked where were her accusers, and seeing no 
man near to respond, He said, u Since there are none to condemn thee 

neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.” 

As Jesus was returning on a Sabbath from the Temple to his lodg- 
ings at the Mount of Olives, which was on the outskirts of Jerusalem, 
he met a blind beggar sitting at a gate in His way. The 
The sight re- (ji sc ipl es w fi 0 accompanied Him seem to have first discov- 

stored to a blind 

beggar. e red th e afflicted man, for they, seeking instruction from the 
example, asked Christ to whom should the sin which ren- 
dered the man blind be laid, whether to his parents or to himself, to 
which Jesus replied by denying that the condition of the sightless one 
was due either to his own folly or to the evil conduct of his parents, but 
revealed to them that it was an instance of God’s manner of dealing with 
those who love Him, in that the blind man had been set in the way that 
he might bear witness to the power and mercy of God made manifest in the 
Son ; whereupon Jesus took up some clay from the ground, and mixing 
it with His spittle, made a poultice with which He bound up the blind 
man’s eyes, and then told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The 
man went away at once to the pool, and when he had washed the clay 


He Went His Way Therefore , and Washed , and Came Seeing. 66 1 

from his eyelids his heart leaped for joy at finding he had recovered his 
sight. 

The miracle wrought on the beggar became quickly noised through- 
out Jerusalem, so that hundreds came to see the man and to ask by 
what means his sight had been restored. To all these questions he 
replied by a simple recital of the facts, and by giving all the credit 
to Jesus, though he did not at the time appear to know who Jesus was. 



AND INTO WHATSOEVER HOUSE YE ENTER, FIRST SAY, PEACE BE TO THIS HOUSE.— Duke io. 5. 

The Pharisees and scribes were quick, as usual, to find something in 
the gracious act to condemn. Hence they at first said, “ This man is not 
of God because He keepeth not the Sabbath day.” But 
there were others who reasoned on the matter, and who asked, The cr,t,cscon - 

founded by the 

in admiration and surprise, “ How can a man that is a sin- bcggar 

ner do such miracles ? ” Thus there was a division of 
opinion among the people, which soon grew into a serious dispute. 
Some of the more vindictive and jealous of the Pharisees refused to 


662 Now We Know That God Heareth Not Sinners . 

believe that any miracle had been performed. They accordingly called the 
beggar’s parents and questioned them, to which inquiries they received 
assurances that he was indeed their son, and that he had been born 
blind, but they, afraid of the clamor that had been raised over the mira- 
cle, disclaimed any knowledge of how he had recovered his sight, saying, 
“He is of age; go and ask him.’' To the blind man himself the Jews 
next spoke, telling him that to God alone he should give praise, for 
Jesus was a sinner and a blasphemer. But he, more courageous than 
his parents, answered, “Whether He be sinner or no, I know not; one 
thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” And when the 
Jews annoyed him with their repetitions as to how he regained his 
sight, the beggar in turn began to argue that Jesus, by the miracle He 
had performed, had given proof of His power to do those things which 
can only be done by a special gift from God. Said he, “ Since the world 
began was it heard than any man opened the eyes of one that was born 
blind? If this man were not of God, He could do nothing.” 

This testimony to the works and goodness of Jesus so incensed the 
Jews that they laid hands on the blind man and cast him out of the city, 
and refused him permission to enter their synagogues. Up to this time, 
though convinced that Jesus was a wonderful man, who must needs have 
derived this power from God, he did not know, nor did he even suspect, 
that Jesus was the promised Messiah. But a few days after his rejection 
by the Jews, he met Jesus, who accosting him, asked, “ Dost thou believe 
on the Son of God ? ” To which the beggar replied, “ Who is He, 
Lord, that I might believe on Him?” Then Jesus revealed Himself 
to him as the one who had restored his sight, and also as the promised 
Saviour. And the beggar believed on and worshiped Him. 

Many of the Jews were now more kindly disposed toward Jesus, but 
still they had their doubts, increased by their jealousy, and especially 
by the persistent abuse heaped upon Him by the Pharisees and scribes. 
Parable of the As He was walking on Solomon’s porch, which was the 
Good Shepherd. p a ] ace i n Jerusalem built by that great and wise king, some 
of the half-believing Jews put directly to Him the question, “ If thou art 
the Son of God, whom the prophets said should come into the world, tell 


To Him the Porter Openeth ; and the Sheep Hear His Voice. 663 



us so plainly.” Jesus replied that He had already told them so, but 
they would not believe, and He therefore gave to them the parable of the 
Good Shepherd. “Verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the 
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a 
thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd 
of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: 
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out, and when 
he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep 
follow him : for they know his voice. And 
a stranger will they not follow, but will 
flee from him ; 
for they know 
not the voice 
of strangers.” 

The Jews, fail- 
ing to understand 
the meaning of this 
parable, Jesus ex- 
plained to them 
that He was the 
door of the sheepfold ; that whoso- 
ever came through Him should 
become one of the heavenly fold ; 
that He was also the Good Shep- IF A MAN HAVF A hundred sheep and one of 

r THEM BE GONE ASTRAY. — Mat. 18. 12. 

herd who would give His life for 

His sheep, for He knew all His sheep and would bring them safe within 
the fold at the last day. “Therefore,” said He, “doth My Father love Me, 
because I lay down My life that I might take it again. No man taketh it 
from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and to 
take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” This 
prediction of His death the Jews only partly understood, but His defence 
of the claims which He set up as to His being equal with God increased their 
anger to such an extent that they would have seized Him with violent 
hands, forgetful of the works He had done and the promises made in the 


66 \ Now a Certain Man was Sick Named Lazarus . 

parable of the Good Shepherd to protect His flock. But before they 
could execute their dire intent, Jesus suddenly disappeared from their 
midst and went away to a place beyond the Jordan where John had 
baptized. 

While preaching at the baptizing place of John— possibly where the 
Saviour had Himself been baptized — Mary and Martha sent Jesus word 
that their brother, Lazarus, was lying very ill at Bethany, and begged 
Our brother Him to come and minister to him. But though Jesus 
Lazarus is ill. regarded the two sisters and Lazarus as His very dear 
friends, He did not respond at once to the call for His services, having 
a wise purpose in view to prompt Him to delay. He therefore continued 
preaching in the same place two days longer, at the end of which 
time He said to His disciples: “Let us go into Judea again.” The dis- 
ciples, however, remonstrated against His going again into that country, 
reminding Him that it was only a short time before the Jews there 
sought to stone Him, and to return now must expose Him to great 
danger. But Jesus calmed their fears by assuring them that to Him 
was given the knowledge of what should come to pass, and again by tell- 
ing them that Lazarus was now sleeping (dead), and that He must go 
and raise him out of his sleep (restore him to life), by which He should 
again give proof to them that He was indeed the Resurrection and the 
Life. 

Thomas, called Didymus, did not receive with satisfaction the assur- 
ances given him by Jesus, but his devotion was such that he determined 
to go with his Lord and, if need be, die with Him at the hands of the 
hate-inspired Jews. While on their way to Bethany, which was less than 
two miles to the east of Jerusalem, they learned that Lazarus was already 
dead, as Jesus had foretold, and had been laid away in a sepulchre for 
four days. The neighbors had offered such comfort to Mary and Martha 
as they were able to give, but in the bitterness of their afflictions the 
two sisters refused all consolation, feeling in their hearts that their 
beloved brother might have recovered had Jesus responded promptly to 
their call. As He approached near, Martha was first to discover Him, 
and running out of the house she greeted Jesus, crying: “Lord, if Thou 








666 fesus Therefore Again Groaning in Himself , Cometh to the Grave. 

hadst been here my brother had not died. But I know that even now, 
whatever Thou wilt ask of God, He will give it Thee.” Jesus received 
Thy brother her kindly and sought to console her with the promise, 
shah rise again. « Thy brother shall rise again.” Then Martha thought that 
Jesus referred to the resurrection on Judgment day. Mary had not yet 
shown herself, being oppressed so by grief that she remained closeted, 
but when Jesus asked for her she came upon a summons from her sister, 
and kneeling at the feet of Jesus said, as had Martha, u Lord, if Thou 
hadst been here my brother had not died.” The scene was so moving 
that all those near fell to weeping, mingling their sorrowing sympathy 
with the profound grief and trustfulness of the two sisters. With eyes 
suffused with tears Jesus asked where the body of Lazarus had been laid, 
whereupon they answered Him, “ Come and see.” At this Jesus fell to 
weeping, thus pouring out His great soul in loving sympathy, which the 
Jews perceiving, said, “ See how He loved him ! ” And again they asked, 
“ Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have saved 
Lazarus from dying?” Jesus, followed by the two sisters, His disciples, 
and many friends of the deceased, went forward until He came to the 
sepulchre, which, according to the custom of the times, was an excavation 
in the side of a hill, before which a stone was rolled to hide the body 
from view. Among the more wealthy it was customary to fit a stone 
Lazarus, before the sepulchre and to cement it in such a manner as to 
come forth, exclude the air, after which a private seal was placed on the 
stone. In the burial of Lazarus it appears from the text that a grave 
had been excavated, over which a slab was placed which might be easily 
removed, for the family was too poor to give the body a better sepulchre. 
As the party reached the grave, therefore, Jesus ordered the covering to 
be removed; but Martha, whose faith was not so unbounded as she had 
declared, said “Lord, Lazarus has been dead now four days, by which 
time his body must be decayed and offensive.” 

Jesus rebuked her by saying in reply, “ Did I not tell thee that if 
thou wouldst believe in Me, thou shouldst see how great God’s power is ? ” 
So the stone was removed and Lazarus was exposed, wrapped in his burial 
garments, with a linen napkin bound about his head, as was the custom 


He That was Dead Came Forth . . . with Grave Clothes 


66 7 



of burial among the Jews. Jesus now called in a loud voice, “ Lazarus, 
come forth ! ” whereupon he that was dead immediately uprose, with the 
winding cerements still about him, and stood before the Resurrector with 
the flush of life full upon him ; the grave clothes were speedily removed 
from his feet and hands, and Lazarus stood forth to thank God and 
receive the joyful manifestations of his sisters. The Jews who were wit- 
nesses of this wondrous 
miracle were moved to a 
confession of Christ, and 
went away telling it to all 
whom they met. When 
the Pharisees 
heard what 
had been done 
the y were 
more jealous 
than before, 
gathering to- 
gether and 
asking one 
another what 
should be 

done to coun- is it lawful for you to scourge a man 

THAT IS A ROMAN, AND UNCONDEMNED ? 

teract the in- -Acts 22.25. 

fluence Jesus was exerting among the people. 

“ If we let Him alone,” said they, “ all the 
people will believe on Him and make Him their King. This will 
arouse the Romans to anger, and Caesar will send an army into our 
country to reduce us to subjection.” Thus they conspired among them- 
selves to destroy Jesus, and sent emissaries out to make a conspiracy 
charges against Him. Caiaphas, the high-priest, who was to km J csus * 
leader of the rulers, before a council that had been summoned argued 
the political expediency of putting Christ to death as a substitute for the 
whole people, for, he contended, it were manifestly better that Jesus should 


668 


Then Sought They for Jesus ... to Take Him. 


be executed than that through His influence the people be committed to 
acts which would invite the wrath of Rome. This proposition came as a 
prophecy, evidently prompted to utterance by God Himself for His own 
good reason, though Caiaphas knew not the full measure of his words. 

On account of the plots formed against His life Jesus retired out of 
Bethany to the wilderness of Ephraim, whither He was accompanied by 
He escapes disciples. After remaining in Ephraim a short while 

to the He traveled through Persea, preaching in the villages which 
wilderness. ] a y j n ro ute, and afterwards turning toward Jerusalem, 

where He should be offered up for the sins of all people. We are not 
told through what cities His route now lay, but it is evident that He 
chose a populous district, where He would be sure of large : audiences, 
and where also the people were inclined to give ear to His teachings. 

As He was preaching in one of the synagogues on a Sabbath, He 
perceived an old woman in the audience who was afflicted with what had 
been pronounced an incurable disease for a period of eighteen years. 
Walking was extremely painful to her; yet, so anxious was she to see 
Jesus, that the burden of her affliction and the pangs which shot through 
her feeble body with every movement of her limbs, did not restrain her 
from going to the synagogue, though she had entertained no hope of 
being cured by the Great Physician. Seeing that she was concerned 
chiefly about her souk Jesus called out to her, saying, “Woman, thou art 
made well of thy sickness.” He afterward laid His hands upon her, and 
immediately she was restored to perfect health and began praising God. 

The ruler of the synagogue, however, was very angry at Jesus for 
having performed this good miracle on the Sabbath day, for, like all others 
of his class, he was a stickler for the Mosaic law in its literal construc- 
tion, giving no regard to the spirit and intent of the law-giver. Jesus 
administered to him a stinging rebuke, to which the ruler could make no 
rep^y: “Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you, on the Sabbath, take 
his ox or his ass from the stable and lead him out to water him ? And 
if it is right to do what is needful for the ox or the ass is it not right 
that this woman, who has been suffering for eighteen years, should be 
made well on the Sabbath day ? ” 


The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Unto a Certain King . 669 



And Jesus now spoke many parables to the people, for He saw that 
they could comprehend His teachings more readily by giving them prac- 
tical illustrations and bringing the moral of each directly home to their 
understanding. Thus, on one occasion, while He was visiting at the house 
of a chief Pharisee, who was almost persuaded and yet not quite willing 
to give over his worldly way of living, 

Jesus related the parable of a man who 
had provided a great supper: When the 
table had been 
made ready for 
a large num- 
ber of invited 
guests, the 
host sent his 
servants out 
to bid those 
who had been 
invited to 
come to the 
feast, but one 
after another 
made excuses, 
assigning as 
many reasons 
as there were 
guests invited, 
why it was incon- 
venient for them 
to accept. The 

man was very angry when he found that none of those whom he had 
asked to dine with him would come to his feast, but that the victuals pro- 
vided might not spoil, he ordered his servants to go out quickly again 
into the streets and to invite every person they might meet, particularly 
the poor, lame and blind. When the servants had thus brought in a 


there was a woman which had an . . 

— Euke 13. II. 


INFIRMITY EIGHTEEN YEARS. 


670 None of Those That Were Bidden Shall Taste of My Supper. 



great number of unfortunates, the man found that there was still room 
for many more at the table, and he accordingly ordered his servants to 
Par able of the go out again and invite as many more as his tables would 
great supper, accommodate, but he enjoined them not to bring any one of 
those whom he had first invited, for he declared that now they should 

things that he had prepared. By 
this parable Jesus impressed His 
hearers with the means God had 
provided for salvation. The man 
who had made the feast was God 
Himself, whose servants were the 
ministers of the gospel. These 
had first invited the Jews, but as 
they would not come, the invita- 
tion had been extended to all 
people who would receive His 
teachings, regardless of their pov- 
erty and infirmities. 

There was a certain man who 
had two sons ; the younger of 
whom, having grown to manhood’s 
estate, came to his father and asked 
for his share of the inheritance, 
that he might go out into the 
world and henceforth pursue his 
own way. Accordingly, the father 
made a division of his property 
and gave the younger son his 
share. The young man, having a 
large sum, and reckoning nothing of how it had been accumulated, so that 
he knew not its value, went to a far country and there, instead of wisely 
investing his inheritance, entered upon a course of riotous living whereby 
his substance was soon squandered, and he was left friendless and in 
poverty. His misfortune was greatly increased by reason of a famine 


not taste of any of the meats and good 


BEHOIyD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK Rev. 3. 20. 




Father , Give Me the Portion of Goods That Falleth to Me. 671 


which now prevailed in the land to which he had 
traveled, so that he was in danger of starving. To 
appease his growing hunger the young man engaged 
himself as a swineherd, and while attending his 
charge he sought to stay his craving with the swill 
and grain upon which the hogs fed. 

In his reduced condition the prodigal began to 
think of the conduct which had brought him to 
this sorry plight, and, though appreciating his faults, 
he thought of the care and comfort which the ser- 
vants of his father had, and of the bread they had 
to spare, with plenty abound- 
ing on every side of them. 

So he resolved to return to 
his father, acknowledge his 
faults and his unworthiness 
to be called the son of so 
good a man, and to beg that 
he might be permitted to 
engage as one of his hired 
servants. Carrying this reso- 


his father saw him, and lution into effect the young 

HAD COMPASSION Duke 15. 20. 

man left the land of famine, 
and after a long time of journeying, and innumer- 
able hardships, he came at last within sight of the 
old homestead. Ragged, dirty, emaciated by hunger, 
begrimed with dust of the road, unshorn, and 
misery written in every feature, yet the returning 
prodigal was not without recognition ; for even when 
he was yet a great way off his father recognized 
him ; not in the soiled clothes, unkempt hair, and 
beggarly garments, but in that fatherhood which 
knows its own by voice ; yea, by intuition. And 
perceiving that it was his son, the forgiving father 


AND HE SENT HIM INTO HIS 
FIELDS TO FEED SWINE.— 
Luke 15. 15. 



6j 2 


For This My Son was Dead , and is Alive Again. 


ran out to meet him, and when he drew near he fell upon the boy’s 
neck and with kisses, and tears of compassion, welcomed him back with a 
Rejoice with joy which the heart may feel but tongue cannot express, 
me that my son Overcome with shame for his unworthiness, the erring son 
freely confessed his sin, and begged that he might be re- 
ceived only as a servant, which humble place he did not even deserve. 
But the rejoiced father made no other reply than to order the servants to 
bring quickly the best robe with which to adorn him in 
place of the tattered raiment that disfigured his precious 
body ; to put a ring upon his hand and shoes upon his 
feet; “and bring hither,” said he, “the fatted calf, and 
kill it : and let us eat and be merry ; for this my son 
was lost and is found again.” So then a general rejoic- 
ing began among the servants and family, and there was 
music and dancing and laughter, until the noise reached 
the elder brother, who was out in the field. Wondering 
what was the cause of this great jubilee he came hastily 
toward the house, and meeting a servant eagerly inquired 
of him what it all meant. To this the servant answered 
with some show of pleasurable excitement, “ Thy brother 
is come ! and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because 
he hath received him safe and sound!” Stung with jeal- 
ousy, because of the marked favors bestowed upon his 
brother, while he himself had not even been invited to the 
welcoming, the elder one refused to go in, whereat his 
father came out and entreated him to give over his jealousy 
and extend a brotherly hand of greeting to him who had 
been lost. But he answered, “ Father, for all these many 
years of my life have I served thee faithfully ; neither 

have I at any 
time wilfully dis- 
obeyed any of 
your commands ; 
and yet you never 






eoffai 1 ’ d.icc| 

jsTV cdso'clisd: 'A, 
A v %-theyteftaUjtrfii 

V ■WxQ.’-r own r.dc. 



A Certain Rich Man , Clothed in Purple and Fine Linen . 673 


gave me so much as a little kid with which I might make a feast for 
my friends, but so soon as my brother returns, after squandering his 
inheritance in every form of wanton riot, you receive him The jealous 
with such display of affection as you never bestowed on me, brother, 
and have killed for him the fatted calf, that should have been reserved for 
a more deserving feast.” 

Though all the elder son had said was true, the good and loving 
father was all the more pained, and with beseeching speech he prevailed 
with his jealous son, saying: “Thou art ever with me, and all that I 
have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad ; for 
this thy brother was dead, and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found.” 

By this parable Jesus illustrated the compassion of God, and the joys 
of His Heavenly Father when any that are lost in sin shall renounce 
the evil of their way and return to Him, the source of all love ; for the 
good he has always with Him, hence that greater joy must be manifest 
when the evil are reclaimed. 

The Pharisees, though outwardly affecting great respect for the Mosaic 
law, praying loudly in public places to excite popular belief in their great 
piety, were at heart base, treacherous, selfish, and above all, 
given to every manner of luxury which wealth could pro- 
vide. To picture these faults in unmistakable colors, that 
would expose them to themselves as well as to His followers, 

Jesus related another parable, as follows : There was once a very rich 
man, who, having no care for further acquisition, or heed for those less 
blessed than himself, spent his time dressing with fastidious care in the 
finest of linens, to be admired of men, and in dining with such sumptu- 
ousness as to excite the envy of his neighbors. And there was a certain beg- 
gar, named Lazarus, who, covered with sores and other afflictions which 
rendered him helpless, was laid by his little more favored p ar abie of the 
friends at the rich man’s gate that, perchance, he might rich man and 
subsist off the crumbs thrown to him by the servants from Lazarus, 
the great feasts. While lying thus exposed, and dependent upon a 
doubtful charity, the poor man was visited by dogs, that came to lick 
his sores, and which were alone lowly enough to be his companions. But 


Intense selfish- 
ness of the 
Pharisees. 


43 


674 Remember That Thou in Thy Lifetime Receivedst Thy Good Things . 

soon the despised unfortunate died, and the touch of grief never once swept 
across the strings of the human heart, but in heaven there was a tear of 
pity wept, and there was the minstrelsy of rejoicing, too, at a soul released 
from its sorrowing tenement : and so angels came to carry away the soul of 
Lazarus, where it might repose in the bosom of an unspeakable delight, 
wrapped in the mystery, but goodness, of God. 

And soon the rich man also died : and there were wailings over 
the costly cerements which hid his poor body of senseless clay ; dirges 
Reward of the of music flooded the room wherein he lay, and floated 
righteous. out among the naves and lofty arches of the great palace, 
to an assemblage that had come to pay its last homage to the rich man. 
And now the crowd divided to permit a passage for the pall-bearers as 
they filed solemnly by, carrying the body to its final bourne, an imposing 
sepulchre carved out of the rock, where neither thieves nor prying eyes 
could penetrate. But while all this pomp and circumstance of wailing, 
homage and burial was being enacted, the soul of Dives was already in 
another world paying the penalty of a w r asted life. From out the sleep 
of death the rich man was awakened by the .torments prepared for the 
wicked, and as he raised his eyes in agony, lo ! afar off he saw the 
spirit of Lazarus in the arms of Abraham, reveling in the joys of 
righteousness ; and Dives cried out, “ Father Abraham, have mercy on 
me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and 
cool my tongue ; for I am tormented in this flame.” But to this appeal 
Abraham could only answer, “ Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime 
receivedst thy good things, while Lazarus, in all the misery of his poverty 
and afflictions, was suffered to remain at thy gate without attention either 
from thee or thy servants. Now he is in paradise, and thou art in the 
torment of the selfish and worldly-minded. But even were Lazarus 
disposed to respond to thy cry, there is a wide gulf between thee and 
him, which no soul may pass, either to go or come.” 

Upon hearing this, Dives besought Abraham that he might send 
one from the dead to warn his five remaining brothers against the sins 
which had brought him to this place of torment ; but the prophet answered 
that so engrossed were they in the evils which wealth provokes, and so 



All the Works They Do for to be Seen of Men. 675 

wedded to the course of a luxurious and selfish life, that even if one 
were sent from the dead to tell of their folly and danger, yet would they 
not repent. 

Jesus reinforced his illustrations of Pharisaic hypocrisy by relating 
another parable, no less appropriate at the time, and quite as applicable 
to the present age : Two men went up into the Temple to repeat their 
prayers ac- 
cording to 
their customs, 
one of whom 
was a Pharisee 
and the other 
a publican. 

The fo rmer, 
arrayed in 
rich raiment, 
which was a 
mark of his 
vanity, stood 
in an open 
place, and 
thus poured 
out his sel- 
fish cant and 
boasting : “O 

God, I thank Thee Thou hast not 
made me as other men are, extortioners, 
unjust, adulterers, or even as this pub- 
lican, who comes also at this time to offer up his petitions. I am more 
devout than other men, and fulfill the law, because I fast twice each week 
and give the tenth of what I possess to the support of the The Pharisee 
Temple service ; therefore am I deserving of all Thy and P ub,ican * 
favors. ” The publican, however, entertained no selfish motives, nor did 
he seek to justify his actions before God, but realizing how much he 


SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE 
SAVED ?— Acts 16. 30. 


676 If Thou Wilt Enter Into Life , Keep the Commandments . 

owed to his Maker, and the unworthiness of every man before God, 
humbled himself and cried out, in his desire to be made better, “ God, 
be merciful to me a sinner.” “ I tell you,” said Jesus, “this publican was 
justified rather than the Pharisee ; for every one that exalteth himself 
shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” 

Scarcely had Jesus ceased speaking to them these parables illus- 
trating the vanity of riches, when there came running to Him a young 
The rich man, who, kneeling at the Lord’s feet, asked, “ Good Master, 
young man. w hat shall I do to inherit eternal life?” To which Jesus 
answered, “ Why callest thou Me good ? There is none good but One, 
that is God.” Though He knew that the young man was insincere in his 
professions to humble himself or to forsake the luxuries and follies 
which his inherited wealth had accustomed him to, Jesus yet condescended 
to answer him, rather for the example which He might make to those 
about Him. Thus said He : “ Thou knowest the commandments ; hast 
thou observed all these?” “Yea,” replied the young man, “I have 
obeyed all of these from my youth.” Jesus now looked upon him with 
compassion, for He knew that the harder sacrifice had not been made, 
and hence the observance which the young man confessed was in letter 
rather than the spirit of self-denial and worshipful heart. Jesus there- 
fore said to him : “ One thing thou lackest yet : go thy way, sell 
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure 
in heaven ; and come, take up thy cross and follow Me.” But the young 
man was grieved to hear these hard conditions, for he very was rich, and 
turned away, for he would not accept them. 

Thus was an example in real life offered, whereby Jesus was able to 
show to His disciples the persistency with which a man will cling to his 
worldly possessions, even though it be at the sacrifice of his soul. There- 
fore those which are first in this world, honored of men for their accumu- 
lations and the vain-glorious display which they make to excite praise, 
shall be last in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

While Jesus was thus teaching, many of the people who accepted 
Him as the promised Messiah brought their little ones and begged that 
He might lay His hands on their heads and bless them. As the crowd 


Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me . 


6 77 


pressed forward the disciples rebuked those who had brought their children, 
and bade them go away and cease interrupting the Teacher, whose mission 
was among men. But Jesus was angered by the rudeness of His disciples, 
and cried out to them and the waiting mothers as well : “ Let the little 
children come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom 


of Heaven.” And He took up the prattling 
babes in His loving arms, 
and laid His dear hands 
upon the heads of others 
and blessed them. And He 
spake another 


** h 4 „ * i gk, || ^ 

& mmS 

d JifSw 

Hi 



DIDST THOU NOT AGREE WITH ME FOR A PENNY ?— Matt. 20. i 


parable, saying : The 
Kingdom of Heaven 
may be compared to a 
householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in 
his field. The first men whom he met agreed to work for him for the 
wages of one penny per day. These he engaged, and parabieofthe 
then went into the market place and hired others, but laborers, 
without stipulating what he should pay them. Each hour of the day, 
from the first to the eleventh, the man went through the streets and 


678 


The Last Shall be First , and the First Last. 


engaged men to work in his fields, saying to each, “ Whatsoever is right 
•I will pay you.” When the day was done he ordered his steward to call 
all the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning with the last engaged. 
Therefore those that were engaged at the eleventh hour were paid first, 
and each man received a penny. Seeing how liberal the man had been 
to those who had not worked above one hour, those who worked twelve 
hours expected to receive a sum proportionate to the time of their service, 
but upon receiving their pay they found that they, too, had received only 
the penny for which they had agreed to work. Thereupon they bitterly 
complained of their employer’s injustice, saying “ These whom you first 
paid have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, 
which have borne the burden and heat of the entire day.” But the man 
reminded the complainants that he had fulfilled his promise, and that 
they had no right to charge him with injustice when he had paid them 
the sum which they freely engaged to work for. u Is it not lawful,” said 
he, u to do what I will with mine own ?” 

This parable was recited to illustrate the character of God’s mercy ; 
that the promise of eternal life is held out to all men, and that there are 
no measures of glory whereby men shall be rewarded in proportion to the 
length of their service in God’s vineyard ; but that all who are absolved 
from guilt, through the acceptance of the Holy Spirit, even if the change 
from sin to righteousness be made within the last hour, yet the reward 
shall be as great as the mercy of God can make it. 


CHAPTER VII. 


"his day is salvation come to this house. 

His journey toward Jerusalem to attend the 
Feast of the Passover, Jesus passed through 
Jericho, followed by a vast concourse of people, 
some being attracted by curiosity, whilst others 
were become worshipers and became His fol- 
lowers because of their steadfast faith. There was 
a certain rich man in Jericho, named Zaccheus, 
who held the office of chief tax-gatherer, a place 
of appointment under the Roman government. This man, having heard 
much concerning Jesus, became very anxious to see Him, but on account 
of his extremely short stature he could not catch even a glimpse of the 
Divine Master, over the heads of the taller people who made 

Jr x Zaccheus 

up the crowd. To gratify his curiosity, therefore, Zaccheus acknowledges 
ran before the moving mass of the people, and climbed up into Christ, 
the branches of a sycamore tree which he knew stood in the path along which 
Jesus must pass. When the Saviour approached near, He looked up and 
perceiving Zaccheus, knowing also the reason of his lofty position, addressed 
him in a kindly manner, saying, “ Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for 
I must abide at thy house to-day.” The spirit of faith was immediately 
made manifest in Zaccheus, who answering the summons, said, “ Behold, 
Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor ; and if I have taken any- 
thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” This 
speech was an acknowledgment of the Messiahship, for Zaccheus well 
knew what implacable hatred the Jews felt for the tax-gatherers, and 
knowing Jesus to be a Jew he sought to make amends for any of his 
misdeeds and oppressions as a publican, that he might have the favor of 
Him who had already been hailed as “ King of the Jews.” The people, 

(679) 




68o 


Be of Good Comfort , Rise ; He Calleth Thee. 


however, complained that Jesus was putting Himself upon an equality with 
a chief of sinners, for they could not conceive how one so odious to them, 
as a tax-gatherer, could be moved by any good intentions. But Jesus saw 
the earnestness and faith of Zaccheus, and assured him of His favor by 
saying, 11 This day is salvation come to this (thy) house ” (or the house of 
Abraham). 

As He was going out of Jericho He passed a blind beggar by the 
wayside, who, hearing that Jesus was passing, cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son 


of David, have mercy on 
me.” The disciples, as well 
as many others, besought 
him to be still, but the 
blind man only called out 
the louder, until Jesus re- 
quested that he be brought 
to Him. When the un- 
fortunate was in the divine 
presence and questioned as 
to his desires, he begged 
that he might receive his 
sight, whereupon Jesus said 
to him, “ Go thy way ; thy 
faith hath made thee whole.” 
And immediately he re- 
ceived his sight and followed 



after Jesus. As the great concourse of people came near to Bethany, Jesus 
rested at the Mount of Olives, and sent two of His disciples into the village 
of Bethphage (town of figs), with instructions to bring to Him a colt (ass) 
which they would find tied at the village gate, and upon which no one 
had yet ridden. The two accordingly set out for Bethphage, and when 
they reached the gate they found, as the Lord had told them, a young 
ass, but as they were unloosing the animal, the owner appeared and 
demanded to know why they were taking the ass without so much as 
asking his leave to do so ; to which they replied, “ The Lord hath need 



Blessed is He That Cometh in the Name of the Lord . 68 1 

of him.” We are led to believe from the fact that no opposition was made 
to the disciples’ action, that to the owner was revealed the true purpose for 
which his animal was needed, and he no doubt joined the crowd that was 
following Jesus up to Jerusalem. When the ass was brought, some of the 
disciples placed their garments upon its back and mounted Jesus thereon, 
while others spread their 
clothes in the path for Him 
to ride over. Thus the jour- 
ney was resumed, and as 
the crowd moved forward 
from the Mount of Olives 
they set up such rejoicings 
as were never before heard 
in that sacred place. Ho- 
sannas were sung and shouts 
of praisegiving rent the air : 

“Blessed be the king that 
cometh in the name of the 
Lord; peace in heaven, and 
glory in the highest.” Some 
of the Pharisees objected to 
this adulation, even of one 
so worthy of praise, and 
asked Jesus to repress the 
outbreak of noisy glorifica- 
tion; but to these requests 
He returned the reply : “ I 
tell you, if these people should hold their peace, the very stones would 
cry out in praise.” 

As Jesus approached within view of Jerusalem, the sad future of that 
splendid city arose before Him, and with prophetic vision He saw it lying 
in ruins, its destruction to be wrought as a punishment of the people 
for having rejected the day of grace. Just as this affliction might be, 
Jesus was none the less sorrowful, and He wept while contemplating the 


HE TOOK THE BLIND MAN . . . AND LED HIM OUT OF 
THE TOWN.— Mark 8. 23. 


682 A Certain Man Planted a Vineyard , and Set a Hedge About it. 

woe which was foretold to Him should come to those who were His perse- 
cutors. Entering into Jerusalem and the Temple, He still met with the 
same reception, the people crying, “This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth 
of Galilee !” and coming to Him in the Temple to be healed. What most 
incensed the chief priests and scribes was to hear the children crying 
in the Temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David and, as before, they 
asked Him to silence them ; but He only reminded them of David’s 
words, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected 
praise.” In the evening He returned to Bethany. 

Day after day the multitude which came together to hear Jesus 
continued to increase, until both the Temple and court were filled to 
Parable of the overflowing. In addressing the scribes and Pharisees He 
vineyard. usually confined Himself to an expounding of the law, but 
to the great majority He discoursed in parables which brought His 
teachings into bold relief to their simple comprehension, and thereby gave 
them practical demonstrations of the truths He proclaimed. Thus He 
recited the parable of the vineyard: 

There was a certain land owner who planted a vineyard upon his 
lands, and fenced it against depredations from roaming herds. He also 
built a wine press and suitable buildings for housing the workmen and 
caring for the vintage. Having thus prepared the soil and planted it, he 
let the lands to certain husbandmen, and leaving servants to collect the 
rents, he made a journey into a far country. 

When the fruits were ripe the land owner’s servants went to the 
husbandmen to demand the money which was due, but instead of the 
tenants making payments as they had agreed, they seized the rent col- 
lectors, one of whom they beat, another they stoned, and murdered another. 
Other collectors were sent to collect the rent, but they were likewise 
brutally treated and received nothing. At length the land owner’s son 
went in person to request payment of the money that was due, but when 
the wicked husbandmen saw him coming, and knew his errand, they said 
to one another, “ This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and seize on 
his inheritance. And they caught and slew him, and threw his body out 
of the vineyard.” 


Then Saith He to His Servants , the Wedding is Ready. . 683 

Having related this parable, Jesus asked His hearers what the land- 
lord should do when he returned and learned how the husbandmen had 
treated his servants? And He explained to them that the landlord was 
God, and the husbandmen were those who had done evil to His servants 
in the world s vineyard ; while the son whom they murdered was Him- 
self, for it was the intention of the wicked to kill Him because He was 
the heir, sent 
about His Fa- 
ther’s business. 

And He 
gave them 
another para- 
ble, wherein 
He likened the 
Kingdom of 
Heaven to a 
certain king 
who desired to 
celebrate the 
wedding of his 
son. This king 
prep are d a 
great number 
of invitations, 
which he sent 
out by his servants, that his friends 

might come and make .merry with him in his hour of gladness. But 
none of the persons invited responded, whereupon he sent his servants for 
them, bidding them to say to those whose company he requested, “ Behold, I 
have prepared my dinner ; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things 
are ready; come unto the marriage.” But they refused the invitation and 
went about their business affairs, indifferent to the king’s wishes and 
commands. This treatment so offended the king that he sent his army 
to punish those who had insulted his servants and disobeyed his orders. 



684 ’ She of Her Want Did Cast in All She Had. 


Having done this he bade his servants go out again upon the highways 
and to summon to the feast all the people they could find, whether good 
or bad, for the baked meats must be eaten. 

By this general invitation a very large number of guests were 
brought in who made merry with the king. Among those who had 
thus come to the feast, however, was one who had not prepared himself 
with a wedding garment, and being discovered by the king he was com- 
manded to tell why he had not observed the requirements of every guest 
at a royal marriage feast. The unfortunate man, not being able to fur- 
nish an excuse for his negligence, hung his head in shame, whereupon 
the king commanded his servants to seize and bind him, and to throw 
him out, for he was unworthy to be of the company invited. 

In this parable God was represented as the king who had prepared 
the wedding feast, and the son was Jesus Himself, whom the Father 
desired to honor. Those first invited were the Jews that rejected Him, 
and those afterward brought in from the highways were the people of 
other nations who would receive His teachings and fulfill the law of 
righteousness. The man who neglected to provide himself with a wed- 
ding garment represented the hypocrite, who, while outwardly appearing 
like a true believer, was at heart without faith, and therefore unworthy 
of Christian fellowship. 

While Jesus was preaching in the Temple, He perceived .how the 
people made their contributions for the purchase of sacrifices, and for 
defraying the expenses of the Temple services. Large 
widow* s°mite c h es ts were provided, in the top of which an aperture was 
made to receive coins ; into these the people, both rich and 
poor, deposited such sums as they were pleased to contribute. Some of 
the very wealthy made a display of their riches by depositing large 
sums in the presence of persons who they were sure would publish 
their great charity. Among the contributors Jesus observed a poor widow 
approach the box and with trembling hand, deposit two mites — equiva- 
lent to one cent of our money — which was all that she had. Jesus 
now called to His disciples, and taught them a lesson in true charity, 
no less valuable to us because it is old. Said He : “ Verily, I say unto 


See What Manner of Stones and What Buildings are Here . 685 



you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who had made 
their contributions to the sacred treasury ; for while others gave of their 
abundance, she cast in all that she had, even to the last means of her 
living.” 

Every evening, after the teachings of the day were finished, Jesus 
went either to Bethany or the 
Mount of Olives to pass the 
night. On returning to Jeru- 
salem one morning, Jesus ad- 
dressed His disciples on the 
glory and 
magnifi c e n c e 
of the Tem- 
ple, wh i c h, 
builded by the 
hands of man, 
must, like other human 
creations, perish in the 
mutations of time. He, 
therefore, told 
them that the 
day was com- 
ing when this 
beautiful 
house of wor- 
ship would be 
demolished 
and of the 


ruins there 

would not be BIND HIM HAND AND FOOT > AND take him away.— M att. 22. i 3 . 

left so much as one stone upon another, but all its materials would be scat- 
tered wide apart. This prophecy alarmed the disciples, and when Jesus 
again returned to the Mount of Olives they began to question Him when 
these things should come to pass, for they believed He referred to the 


686 Lo , Here is Christ ; or , Lo, He is There ; Believe Him Not. 

time when the world itself should be destroyed. Without correcting this 
impression, though His forecast of the Temple’s destruction referred to 
the capture and sack of Jerusalem in the wars which should be waged, 
He improved the occasion to prepare them for some of the momentous 
events which must occur, by which not only the Temple, but themselves 
also, would fall by the violent hands of the Lord’s enemies. Said He : 

“ Take heed that no man de- 
ceive you ; for many shall come 
in My name, saying : I am 
Christ ; and shall deceive many. 
And ye shall hear of wars and 
rumors of wars ; see that ye be 
not troubled ; for all these things 
must come to pass, but the end 
is not yet. For nation shall rise 
against nation, and kingdom 
against kingdqm ; and there shall 
be famines, and pestilences, and 
earthquakes in divers places. 
All these are the beginning of 
sorrows. Then shall they de- 
liver you up to be afflicted, and 
shall kill you ; and ye shall 
be hated of all nations for My 
name’s sake. And then shall 
many be offended, and shall 
betray one another, and shall 
hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive 
many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax 
cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for 
a witness unto all nations ; and then shall the end come.” 

To impress them more forcibly with the meaning of this prophecy, 
and the need of every man to prepare himself in the days that are allotted 



BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH ; GO YE OUT TO 
MEET HIM. — Matt.' 25. 6. 


The Kingdom of Heaven Likened Unto Ten Virgins. 687 

him for the call to judgment, Jesus gave them a parable, in which He 
compared the Kingdom of Heaven to ten virgins who took their lamps 
and went out to meet a bridegroom. In those days it was Parabieofthe 
customary, after a marriage had been celebrated at the bride’s tcn vir B ins - 
house, for the bridegroom to bring his new spouse to his own home, in the 
early hours of the night, conducted by a procession of his friends. As the 
procession approached, another came out to meet and congratulate the wedded 
pair, bearing in their hands 
lamps, or torches, as the sym- 
bols of the light of friendship 
to guide them in the path of 
life. In the parable that Jesus 
gave, He represented five of the 
virgins as wise, and five that 
were foolish. The former filled 
their lamps with oil before start- 
ing out to meet the bridegroom, 
besides carrying a quantity of 
oil with them to fill their lamps 
anew when they should be ex- 
hausted ; but the latter were so 
neglectful that they took no 
other supply than that which 
was already in their lamps. At 
midnight, while waiting the ex- 
pected procession, a messenger 
came, crying, “ Behold, the bride- 
groom cometh ; go ye out to 
meet him.” Then the ten virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps, and 
prepared to receive the twain, but the five foolish virgins found that their 
lamps had now no more oil in them, and they therefore begged of their 
five wise companions a supply that they might light their lamps and 
thus meet the bridegroom and participate in the feast of congratulation. 
But the five who were wise answered : “ Not so ; lest there be not enough 



688 


Well Done , Good and Faithful Servant. 


for us and you ; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your- 
selves.” And the five that were foolish hastened away to procure oil to 
fill their lamps, but while they were gone the bridegroom came, and the 
five wise virgins with those that had accompanied them went into his 
house and shut the door against any others that might want to enter. 
When the five that were foolish returned, with their lighted lamps, they 
found entrance to the feast denied them, and though they cried, “ Lord, 
Lord, open to us,” yet the bridegroom hearkened not to their pleadings, 
and declared he knew them not. 

And Jesus spoke another parable to illustrate the duty which every 
one owed God, according to the abilities and advantages which he may 
Parable of the possess: A certain rich man, having occasion to visit a far 
talents. country, called his servants together and charged them what 
they should do until his return. To one he gave five talents, to another 
two, and to a third only one talent, charging them to make profitable 
use of the sums committed to their care and to employ the money wisely 
until his return, for he would demand of them an accounting. 

When the master was gone, he who had received the five talents cast 
industriously about for means to invest the sum which had been entrusted 
to his judgment, and soon found such profitable investment for his five* 
talents that he gained for his master five other talents. The second 
servant was no less successful, for he used the two talents given him 
so wisely that he, too, doubled his fortune. But the third servant, being 
jealous of the preference shown for his two fellows, was 
indifferent to the interests of his master, and instead 
of seeking an investment of the single talent entrusted 
to him, went and buried it, and spent his time in idleness 
until his master’s return. When the rich man returned 
he called his three servants and demanded of them a 
report of how they had employed their time and the 
money entrusted to them during his absence. Where- 
upon the first servant said : “ Master, thou gavest me 

^ five talents, which 
used so wisely 



r- — tn 

He-wkicli [icd reeAejlke oncTalerit § 1 


Cast Ye the Unprofitable Servant Into Outer Darkness . 689 






that I have gained as many more ; 
and here are the ten talents which I 
therefore bring to thee.” And the sec- 
ond servant answered in like manner, 
and brought to his master four tal- 
ents, having gained as much more as had 
been entrusted to him. But the third 
servant, with shame and regret, could 
only say : “ Master, thou art a hard man, 
and fearing thy anger should I lose what had been given me to use, I 
buried it in the ground, and there kept it safely till thou shouldst return. 
Therefore I now bring it to thee.” 

The rich man now rewarded each according to his deserts. To the 
first two he said, “ Well done, thou good and faithful servants ; since you 
have been faithful to me in this, I will promote you to the care of greater 
things, and you shall sit with me on my right hand.” To the slothful 
servant he said : “ Since thou hast been unmindful of my interests, and 
wasted thy time in idleness, thy punishment shall be in losing that which 
was already thy own, for you deserve nothing, not even the care and 
protection of a master.” So saying he gave the single talent to the two 
servants who had been faithful; and ordered the slothful and jealous one 
out of his presence and into utter darkness, where there was wailing and 
gnashing of teeth. 

Jesus now described to His disciples and those gathered about Him the 
day of judgment, when God will demand of His servants an account of how 
they have used the opportunities which are given to each. “ On that day 
the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him. 
Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory : and before Him shall be 
gathered all nations : and He shall separate them one from another, as a 
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and He shall set the sheep on 
His right hand, but the goats on His left. . . . Then shall He answer 

them, saying, Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the 


44 



690 


The Son of Man is Betrayed To Be Crucified. 


least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting 
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” 

The teachings, no less than the miracles of Christ, so largely increased 
His popularity among the common class of people, that He was openly pro- 
claimed the true Messiah, and publicly worshiped as such. 
theTord^sTifc 1 But as & rew popularity among the general public, so 
did the enmity with which He was received by the scribes and 
Pharisees correspondingly increase, and they left nothing undone to arouse 
prejudices against Him, and to bring charges that would put Him on a 
defence for His life. They were in fear of the populace, however, and had, 
therefore, to cover their wicked designs, so that they held secret meetings, 
at which plans for His apprehension were debated. The Feast of the 
Passover was not yet concluded, and knowing that in the evening Jesus 
retired to Bethany, the scribes met at the house of Caiaphas, the high-priest, 
to discuss the advisability of seizing Him, either on the way, or while He 
was reposing at His friend’s house in Bethany. 

While they were considering this plan, Judas Iscariot, the disciple 
whom Jesus had already declared would betray Him, came to them and 
offered, for a reward of thirty pieces of silver — which was the sum fixed by 
the law, for the life of a slave — to betray Him into their hands. 

On the evening before this compact was made, Jesus was in Bethany at 
the house of Simon, where also were being entertained several of His 
disciples. Simon neglected the hospitalities of washing his 
guests’ feet, but a poor woman, possibly a member of the 
household, observing the omission of this customary mark of 
respect, brought an alabaster box filled with the most costly ointment, and 
while the company sat at supper, she poured some of the precious unguent 
upon His head; whereat Judas objected to such an extravagant waste of 
an ointment that was so expensive, urging, with the hypocrisy which 
Christ well understood, that “ this ointment might have been sold for 
much, and given to the poor.” To this Jesus replied, “ Why trouble ye 
the woman ? for she hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the 
poor always with you ; but Me ye have not always. For in that she hath 
poured this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial. Verily I say 


Betrayed by 
Judas. 


From That Time He Sought Opportunity to Betray Him. 691 


unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, 
there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of 
her.” Thus did He forecast the speedy termination of His mission, and 
give a rebuke to him who was to be His betrayer. But Judas was angered, 
and the vengeful and jealous disposition of the man, no less than his con- 
scienceless cupid- 
ity, tempted him 
to become the 
betrayer at the 
first opportunity, 
and with this 
double purpose 
in view he there- 
fore sought out 
the enemies of 
Jesus and prof- 
ered his traitor- 
ous enterprise. 

The day now 
came for celebrat- 
ing the Feast of 
the Passover, 
which was the 
concluding ser- 
vice of the cele- 
bration which had 
occupied several 
days. This latter 
celebration was 

performed by each man of the observants taking a lamb to the Temple, 
where it was killed by priests, as a sacrifice before the altar. The fat was 
burned upon the altar, but the body of the lamb was carried home and after 
roasting was eaten by the family at night. Jesus and His disciples had 
arranged to keep the feast together, and when the time arrived some of 



692 


All Ye Shall be Offended Because of This Night . 


the apostles asked of Him where they would meet to observe the feast. 
To this He answered, “ Go into Jerusalem to a certain man, and say 
unto him, ‘ The Master saith, My time is at hand, I will keep the 
Passover at thy house with My disciples.’ ” The disciples did as they 
were bidden and made ready the lamb, and when the supper was thus 
prepared they sat down to eat, with Jesus occupying the seat of honor. 
After first asking a blessing for the food that had been set before them, 
He broke from a loaf twelve pieces of bread, one of which He gave to 
each disciple saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” And He 
a sin-offering poured out as many cups of wine, and as He passed the 
for ail people. to His company He said, “Drink ye all of it; for 

this is My blood, which is shed for the sins of the world.” They 
wondered at the meaning of this ceremony, for they did not understand 
that this was given as a symbol of His sacrifice, which was now near at 
hand. And He told them that this was the last Passover He would 
celebrate with them until He should Himself become a sin-offering for 
all people. But still the disciples did not comprehend His sorrowful 
words, though they each believed He was now ready to set up an earthly 
kingdom, and the time was therefore at hand for Him to declare His 
rulership. Thus believing, they fell to disputing as to who should be 
most favored with appointments in this new kingdom. Seeing their 
selfish ambition and perceiving that none of the disciples understood His 
words, Jesus said, “ Among those of this world the rulers are greatest, 
but it is not so in that kingdom which I come to declare, since he who 
would be chief must begin by being most humble, as if he were the 
servant of all.” 

Having thus spoken, Jesus arose from the seat of honor, and, casting 
aside His garments, took up a towel, which He bound about His waist. 
_ . 4 Thus attired in the costume of a servant, He poured some 

Peter refuses to ~ r 

be made the water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, 

object of Christ’s an d to wipe them like a true serving-man. Some of the 
disciples offered no objection, but when Jesus came to Simon 
Peter that apostle said: “Lord, wilt Thou wash my feet? who am 
unworthy to do Thee the honor of such a service ! ” To which Jesus 



BEGINNING TO SINK, HE CRIED, LORD, SAVE ME ! — Matt. 14. 30. 


(693) 


694 What / do Thou Knowest Not Now , but Thou Shalt Know Hereafter . 

replied : “ What I do thou knowest not now ; but thou shalt know here- 
after.” But Peter would not yet consent to being made the object of his 
Lord’s humility, and declared that he would not suffer it to be so. At 
which, Jesus partly rose up and fixing His great eyes of melting love and 
pity upon Peter, spoke with that sorrowing speech which echoes yet in 
every human heart, “ If I wash thee not, then thou hast no love for 
Me, nor sign of My brotherhood.” Then Peter submitted to be thus 



HB POURETH WATER INTO A BASIN, AND BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPEES’ FEET. —John 13. 5. 

honored, and as an evidence of his devotion, he begged that his hands 
and head might also receive the signs of Jesus’ love. 

When He had thus washed the feet of all His disciples, Jesus resumed 
the clothes which He had laid aside, and seating Himself, again addressed 
Christ teaches them. He told them that the washing was a sign of purifica- 
humiiity. tion, yet there was one among them whom He declared had 
not been cleansed of his sins. Said He: “ Ye call Me Master and Lord, 


^95 



He Having Received the Sop , went Out Immediately. 

which is proper, but if the Lord shall humble Himself to wash your 
feet, why should ye not also wash the feet of one another? For I have 
given you an example that ye should do as I have done to }^ou.” Con- 
tinuing again, Jesus 
said : “ Though I have 
given you the sign 
of purification, yet 
there is one among 
you that is not 
cleansed, for he it is 
who shall betray Me.” 

At this accusation the 
disciples were much 
surprised, and each in 
turn, anxious to prove 
his fidelity, inquired 
eagerly : “ Lord, is it 
I?” When Judas like- 
wise asked if it was 
he that should prove 
the traitor, Jesus re- 
plied softly, that the 
others might not hear 
His answer: “ Thou 
hast said it.” Peter 
w^as much grieved by 
this prediction, and 
besought John, who 

was leaning on Jesus’ 

, A M .1 , • , AND THERE appeared an angee unto him from heaven.- - 

breast at the time, to Luke 22.43. 

ask his precious Master who it was that would do so infamous a thing. 
To this inquiry Jesus replied: “ It is he to whom I shall give a piece 
of bread when I have sopped it in a dish.” Soon after the sop was given 
to Judas, and after eating the bread, he went out directly to the scribes 



696 


I Am the Way , the Truth and the Life. 



and chief priests to accomplish the betrayal according to the contract 
which he had made with them. 

When Judas had gone from the presence of the disciples, Jesus 
talked with them for a while on the sad events which were now so near 
at hand, and He said : “ Now is the Son of Man glorified, 
and God is glorified in Him. Little children, yet a little 
while I am with you. Ye /n shall seek Me; and as I said unto the 


Love one another. 


Jews, Whither 




ye 


cannot come; so now I say to you. A 
new commandment I give unto 
you, that ye love one another 
as I have loved you. By 
this shall all men 
know that ye are 
My disciples. ” 

Not under stand- 
ing what Jesus 
meant by His dec- 
laration, that in a 
little while He 
would leave them, 
Peter asked : 

“Whither goest 
Thou?” And Je- 
sus answered 
again, “ Whith- 
er I go thou 
canst not fol- 
low Me now; 


but thou shalt 
follow Me af- 
terward.” With the spirit of devotion to his Lord, Peter passionately 
asked : Wky cannot I follow Thee now ? I will lay down my life for 

Thy sake.” To rebuke this display of attachment, which He knew was 
but the zeal of the hour, Jesus said : “ Wilt thou indeed lay down thy 


THIS CUP is the; new testament in my beood, which is 
SHED FOR YOU.— Uuke 22. 20. 


Jesus Ofttimes Resorted Thither With His Disciples. 697 

life for My sake ? Thy passion is scarcely stronger than the mist of 
the morning, for before the sun riseth again thou shalt have denied Me 
three times.” But Peter protested that Jesus knew not the endurance of 
his love, declaring that though death should be the penalty of his devotion, 
yet would he not deny his Lord. 

Having instructed His disciples, Jesus and they sang a song of 
praise together, the benediction was then offered, and the holy party left 
the scene of the last Paschal feast and retired to the Mount of Olives. 

The Lord and His disciples went down from the place where they 
had celebrated the Passover, across the brook Kedron, and entered the 
Garden of Gethsemane (signifying the oil press), where, The passion in 
in the darkness of the deep foliage, they stopped and con- thc e arden * 
versed a short while. Jesus now took James, John and Peter, the three 
who had seen Him transfigured, apart from the others, and retired to 
another part of the garden. These three he set to watch for the coming 
of Judas and the soldiers, while He went a stone’s-throw away and there, 
in the solitude, He poured out His great soul in prayer. Overwhelmed 
with terror at the burden which had been laid upon Him to bear, He 
gave voice to the agony of His human nature. Falling upon His face, as 
a sign of His humility, He cried in sorrowing accents, “ O My Father, if 
it be possible, let this cup pass from Me ; nevertheless not as I will, but 
as Thou wilt.” In this cry for God’s compassion we see the perfect 
blending of humanity with His divinity, in which we behold Him humble 
and obedient even unto death, as the representative of sinful man. So, 
in the triumph of resignation to whatever fate the Father might will He 
should meet, for the remission of sin, we behold the proofs of His divine 
nature. Even the foreknowledge of His death by crucifixion, at once the 
most painful and ignominious of executions, did not appall Him, when the 
divine nature was appealed to, though he shrank from the ordeal which 
His human attributes must pass through. 

When He had prayed long, and felt the strengthening grace of God, 
Jesus rose up and went to His three beloved disciples, whom He found 
wrapped in sleep. Awakening them He said, “Why sleep ye? Arise 
and pray, lest ye be tempted to do wrong.” So saying Fie retired again 


698 Cometh Thither with Lanterns and Torches and IV eapons. 



and resumed His supplications ; but when He had returned a second, and 
even a third time, He found the three disciples whom He set to watch 
sleeping, being weary with care and the night far spent. 

When Jesus aroused Peter, James and John for the third time, He 
said, “ Rise up, and let us be going ; behold, 
he who will betray Me is coming near.” 

At the same moment, torches were seen 
among the trees, and a multitude appeared, 
consisting of officers of the Temple, and 
others, hastily armed with swords and staves, 
sent by the chief priests under the guidance 
of the traitor Judas; for he well knew the 
garden, where he had 
spent many an hour 
with Jesus. The Lord 
gave Himself into their 
hands in such a man- 
ner as to prove how 
entirely the surrender 
was His own act. Twice 
they recoiled from His 
presence, and fell to 
the ground before Ju- 
das took courage to 
give the signal to seize 
Him, by the traitor’s 

kiss. At the sight of 

the officers binding his Master, Peter drew his sword, one of the only two 
that the disciples had, and struck off the right ear of one of the high- 
priest’s servants. Christ rebuked his untimely zeal, in obtruding such puny 
help upon Him who could have commanded the heavenly hosts, and pro- 
voking violence from the captors, at the same time healing the servant’s 
ear. Then turning to the officers, He remonstrated against their show of 

force, as if he was a thief, when they might have taken him any day 


WHY SLEEP YE? RISE AND PRAY, LEST YE ENTER INTO 
TEMPTATION. — Luke 22. 46. 


699 


Officers of the Jews took Jesus and Bound Him. 



as He was teaching in the Temple. To both parties He explained that 
this hour of triumph was granted to them and to the powers of darkness, 
in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. 

The apostles were afraid to share or even watch His fate, as He had 
foretold. “ They all forsook Him and fled.” The concern of Peter to make 
good his boast, and the love of John, in- , duced them alone of 

all the rest to follow at a safe distance. The divine prisoner 

was led first to the house of Annas, t ^ e father-in-law 

of the high-priest, Caiaphas ; per- 
committing the 
rulers publicly, till 
it was decided 
w h ether they 
would risk a pub- 
lic trial. But there 
seems now to have 
been no wish to 
draw back; and 
Annas sent Him 
bound to Caiaphas, 
who had already 
openly advised 
His death. 

Peter and John 
continued to fol- 
low the procession 
until they came to 

the high-priest’s house, into which John ventured to enter, and to also 
request of a female servant at the door admittance for Peter also, which was 
granted. Directly upon the latter’s entrance the servant discovered that he 
was one of Jesus’ disciples, and being charged with the same, Peter rudely 
denied it. Alarmed and conscience-stricken, he retired to the porch, just in 
time to hear the first warning note — the cock’s crow. Soon after, another 
maid pointed him out to the bystanders, saying, “ He also was with Jesus 


AND HE WENT OUf AND WEPT BITTERLY. — Matt. 26. 75. 


700 Peter Then Denied Again , and Immediately the Cock Crew . 

of Nazareth;” and Peter’s fears only led him to a more resolute denial. 
About an hour later the evidence against him was completed by a kinsman 
of Malchus, the servant whose ear he had cut off. This man declared that 
he had seen him in the garden. Peter’s continued denials only furnish fresh 
proofs for the by-standers by means of his Galilean dialect, and thus con- 
victed, he added oaths and curses to the protestations, “ I know not the 
man.” At that moment the cock crew again ; Jesus turned and looked on 
Peter from the room where He was waiting in bonds, “ and Peter went out 
and wept bitterly.” 

With all the zeal, earnestness and affected devotion which Peter had 
manifested, when the hour of real trial came he was like a majority of men, 
more regardful for his own safety than for the One he professed to love above 
his own life. But in this denial he received a wholesome lesson that pre- 
pared him for harder sacrifices, and which led him thirty years later to 
follow Jesus in the path of martyrdom with a stoicism and fidelity that 
may well absolve him from the odium cast on the weakness of his denial 
of Christ. 



CHAPTER VIII. 


And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently 
accused Him. 

chief priests, elders and all of the council, 
having brought Jesus to the priest’s palace, 
cast about for witnesses to convict Him. 
After many endeavors to hire false testimony, 
they found two men who were willing to tes- 
tify, and these being brought into the pres- 
ence of Jesus gave this evidence : “ This 

fellow (Jesus) said: ‘I am able to destroy 
the Temple of God, and to build it in three 
days.’ ” At this Caiaphas arose and asked 
Jesus what answer He had to make to this 
accusation of blasphemy, but Jesus refused 
to make any reply, as He had no reason to 
do, since He knew the will of those leagued 
against Him for His life, and also because 
the testimony thus given was not in the 
nature of an accusation for blasphemy. 

Not being able to elicit an answer to his first inquiry, Caiaphas 
questioned him again, saying : “I adjure Thee by the living God, that 
Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” To this 
Jesus responded : “ Thou hast said so : nevertheless I say unto JcJ| us 
you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the whether Thou 
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” be the Christ r* 
Not understanding the meaning of His words, and having already pre- 
judged Him, the high-priest rent his clothes, as a sign of distress, and 
appealed to the council to condemn Him as a blasphemer, found guilty 
by His own declaration before them. Said he, “ What further need have 

(701) 



702 What Accusation Bring Ye Against This Man ? 

we of witnesses ? behold now you have heard His blasphemy. What 
judgment will you give?” And they with one voice answered, “He is 
guilty ; let Him be punished with death.” This verdict having been 
rendered, the officers in the court spat in His face, struck Him many 
vicious blows, and mocked Him by asking who it was that had offered 
Him these indignities. 

Jesus having been condemned, the next step, according to the Mosaic 
law, would have been to take Him outside the city and there publicly 
jesus taken stoned Him to death, but the Jews being under Roman power, 
before Pilate. h a d no authority to execute the sentence of death upon any 
one, without first having the sentence confirmed by the Roman procurator. 
Jesus was therefore led before this officer, Pontius Pilate, at the seat of 
justice, called the prsetorium. It was early in the morning when Jesus 
was brought to this officer, who came out to ask them what charge had 
been brought against the prisoner. They replied that He was a male- 
factor, but refused to deal with Him as such upon their own responsibility, 
which forced Pilate to question Jesus so as to make up the charge himself 
and bring Him under the Roman law. Thereat Pilate asked Jesus, 
“ Art Thou King of the Jews ?” To which the reply was made, “ My 
kingdom is not of this world, but of that which bears witness to the 
truth.” To the inquiries addressed Him Jesus made such satisfactory 
replies that Pilate was compelled to declare to the Jews that he could 
find no fault in Him. At this the scribes and elders became very 
vociferous in charging Jesus with having stirred up the people from 
Galilee to Jerusalem, with the intention of setting Himself up as a king. 

On this new charge of sedition Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, 
governor of Galilee, but who was at the time in Jerusalem, having come 
up to participate in celebrating the Passover. Herod rejoiced at obtaining 
the interview which he had long sought in vain, and put many questions 
to Jesus in the hope of His working some miracle. Provoked, however, 
at receiving no answer, and seeing the vehemence of Christ’s accusers, 
Herod with his soldiers made a mockery of His regal claims, and sent 
Him back to Pilate arrayed in the imperial purple. The occasion was 
seized for a reconciliation between the king and the procurator, who had 


I Find in Him No Fault at All. 


7°3 


long been at variance, and tbe words of David were fulfilled, u The kings 
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers took counsel together, against 
the Lord and against His Anointed.” 

Finding himself compelled to decide the case, Pilate tried an appeal 
to the generous feelings of the people. It was a customary act of grace, 
in honor of the Passover, for the Roman governor to release pnate tries to 
some prisoner whom the people chose. Knowing that the save Jesus, 
charge against Jesus sprang from the envy of the priests and that the 
people had shown such enthusiasm for Christ, he proposed to release Him 
whom they had so lately hailed as their king. But the plan was 
defeated by a cunning manoeuvre of the priests. There was another pris- 
oner, named Barabbas, a murderer and robber, and the leader of one of 
those insurrections against the Roman government which were frequent 
during the later days of Judah. The feelings of the people were easily 
inflamed in behalf of this patriot brigand, while they probably saw by 
this time that Jesus was not about to fulfill their hopes of a miraculous 
restoration of David’s kingdom. Pilate awaited their decision with an 
anxiety the more intense because while sitting on the tribunal he received 
a warning message from his wife, who had just awakened from a harass- 
ing dream about the “Just Man.” He repeated the question, “Which 
of the two shall I release to you?” And they replied, “Not this man, 
but Barabbas!” Again he tried to bring them to reason, and to revive 
their interest in Christ, by asking, “ What will ye then that I shall do to 
Him whom ye call the King of the Jews f” The answer was ready, 
“ Crucify Him A Still Pilate made a third appeal — “Why, “ Crucify Him 1 ” 
what evil hath He done?” And again declaring that he “Crucify Him ! •* 
found no fault in Him, he proposed the strange compromise, to scourge 
Him and let Him go ! But the loud cries of “ Crucify Him !” prevailed 
over reason and conscience ; and Pilate released Barabbas, and yielded up 
Jesus to their will. 

But first a ceremony was enacted between the governor and the Jews, 
vain on his part, but of awful significance on theirs. Pilate washed his 
hands before the people, protesting, “ I am innocent of the blood of this just 
person; see ye to it;” and they accepted the tremendous responsibility: 


7°4 


Then Pilate Therefore Took Jesus and Scourged Him. 



“ His blood be on us and on our children.” Jesns was now handed 
over to the Roman soldiers, whose brutality was inflamed with contempt 
for the present king of the despised Jews. To the torture of the scourg- 
ing, which preceded crucifixion, was added the 
mockery of the crown of thorns, the pur- 
ple robe and the reed for 
a sceptre, while the soldiers 
mingled their parody of 
the forms of homage with 
blows and spitting in His 
face. The scene seems to 
have suggested to 
Pilate one more effort 
to save Jesus, in 
which, if unsuc- 
cessful, he would 
at least in- 
dulge his lev- 
ity by an insult 
to the Jews. As 
a proof that he 
believed Him in- 
nocent, he 
brought Him 
out and showed 
Him invested 
with the insignia 
of royalty. But 
the insult ex- 
cited rage and 

not compassion, and the cry was again, “ Crucify Him ! ” “Take ye Him, 
and crucify Him; for I find no fault in Him,” rejoined Pilate, knowing 
that they dare not take him at his word ; while they cried that He deserved 
death according to their law, because He made Himself the Son of God. 


BEHOLD THE MAN !— John 19. 5. 


/ Am Innocent of the Blood of This fust Person . 705 

Pilate’s reluctance had for some time shown a mixture of superstitious 
fear which these words raised to the highest pitch. Leading Jesus back 
to the hall he asked Him, “ Whence art Thou ? ” but he received no 
answer. When he urged the question by speaking of his PMate intimi _ 
power to crucify or to release Him, Jesus told him that he dated 
could have no power at all over Him unless it were given b y themob - 
him from above, and with divine authority He therefore declared the 
guilt of His betrayers the greater. With all this clamor for Jesus’ life 
Pilate was resolved to release Him, and would have done so had not the 
cr y gone up : “ If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend.” 
The dread of being thus denounced to Tiberius, for acquitting one charged 
with sedition and an intention of usurping the throne, was more than the 
selfish ambition of Pilate could endure ; so, bringing the judgment seat 
from the praetorium to a public place on the pavement, he mounted it 
and gave sentence against the Precious One whom he had before declared 
innocent. But with the judgment he mingled an insult to the Jews by 
sa}dng, “ Behold your king ! ” When the sentence of Pilate had been 
pronounced the Jews cried out : “Away with Him ! Crucify Him ! ” 
“What!” said Pilate, “shall I crucify your king?” But the mob 
shouted back, “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Jesus was now stripped to the waist, His hands bound to a pillar, 
so that He was forced into a stooping posture, and then beaten with heavy 
cords until great black 'welts rose on the tender skin, while blood flowed 
from many cruel cuts. He was next led into a room of the Tortured with a 
governor’s palace and divested of His clothing, in the place crown of thorns, 
of which they put on Him the purple robes of royalty, as a mockery, 
and plaited a wreath of thorns, which they forced on His head as a crown. 
Into His hand for a sceptre, they put a reed, and having thus clothed 
Him with a mock show of kingly power, they offered Him all manner 
of indignities. While some cried, “ Hail, King of the Jews ! ” others 
spat on Him, and the more cruel slapped Him with their hands and 
struck Him with the reed jerked from His grasp. 

Seeing them thus amuse themselves with an innocent victim, Pilate 
hoped that the Jews would be satisfied to let Jesus go, and therefore 
45 


706 He That Delivereth Me Unto Thee Hath the Greater Sin . 



appealed to them again, saying, “ Behold the Man ! I bring Him out 
to you once more to declare that I find no fault with Him.” But to 


this plea for corn- 
more loudly than 
which Pilate 


passion and justice the chief priests only demanded 
before that He be crucified, in compliance with 
gave Jesus over to them. 

When Judas saw that Jesus was con- 
demned, and that the chief priests were 
leading Him away to be crucified, the 
bitterest remorse seized him. The 
money which he had received as the 
price of his treachery became as coals 
of fire burning his 
hands and as the sight 
of some nameless, 
dreadful thing 


to haunt his 
conscience. No doubt 
he had believed that 
the divine power 
which Jesus pos- 
sessed would protect 
Him in the last hour, 
and thus while bring- 
ing no harm upon 
an innocent person 
he would be able still to enjoy 
the proceeds of his infamous 
compact. With trembling steps 
and sickened heart he therefore 
hurried to the chief priests with 
whom he had bargained and ten- 
dered them back the hateful pieces 
of silver, at the same time urging 
the innocence -of Jesus. But it 


the way of the cross. 

Scenes along our Saviour’s path from the Judgment Hall 
to Calvary. 


He Cast Down the Pieces of Silver in the Temple . 707 

was too late. They refused the money and reminded him that the 
responsibility was not theirs, but all his own. Crazed with self-condem- 
nation, he dashed the coin upon the pavement of the Temple and fled 

from the presence of mankind to a high bluff near Jerusalem, where, 
hastily adjusting a rope about his miserable neck, he attached the end to 
a tree and leaped off into space. The traitor there hanged for a time, 

until his body fell upon the rocks below and was dashed to pieces. More 

awful than this self-inflicted punishment was the sentence pronounced 



AND HE, BEARING HIS CROSS, WENT FORTH INTO A PEACE CALLED THE PLACE OF THE SKULL.— 

John 10. 17. 

upon him by the Lord, while Peter expunges his name from the list 
of the apostles “ that he might go to his own place.” 

With scrupulousness which is a most striking example of religious 
formalism glossing over moral deformity, the chief priests decided that 
the thirty pieces of silver, as the price of blood, must not be put back 
into the treasury ; so they purchased with the money a potter’s field out- 
side the city limits, to be used as a burial place for strangers, whereby 
was fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah. It is most probable, and appears 
to be so implied by the text, that the field so purchased was the place 
where Judas hanged himself, since it received the name Aceldama, which, 
in the Hebrew, signifies the field of blood. 

The crucifixion of Jesus having been decided upon, and the day 
appointed for the execution arrived, He was clothed with His own raiment 


70 8 


Daughters of Jerusalem Weep Not for Me. 



and led out by soldiers from the place of confinement and compelled to 
take up the cross upon which He was to suffer. After carrying it a short 
story of the distance His strength failed and He fell beneath the burden, 
great trag-dy. At this j uncture there appeared a Cyrenian, named Simon, 
coming into Jeru- salem from the country, and him the 

soldiers ordered to bear the cross to the place where it was 

to be set up. The k procession, which numbered 

several thousands, contained many women who 

raised their voices in lamenta- 
tion, and to these Jesus turned 
and bade them to cease their 
weeping for Him, but rather 
to lament for the woes that 
were to follow 

That the execution of Jesus 
might be attended by all the ig- 
nominy possible, there were brought 
at the same time two thieves also 
for crucifixion, that He might die 
as a common malefactor between 
them. And thus driven by sol- 
diers, beside two notorious repro- 
bates, our Lord approached the 
spot chosen for His death. 
This place, so sacred to the 
hearts of all who love God, is 
not definitely known, though it 
must have been near to one of 
the gates of the city. The 
spot was called by the Hebrew 
. name, Golgotha ( place of a 
shull) ) and by the four Bvange- 
lists, Calvaria, or Calvary ; though tradition seems to fix it upon a hill, 
there is no proper reason for supposing this to be true ; on the contrary, 


THEY CRUCIFIED HIM AND TWO OTHERS WITH HIM. - 
John 19. 18. 



When They Were Come to . . . Calvary , There They Crucified Him. 709 

considering the lay of the land about Jerusalem, it is most probable that 
the place of execution was upon a level stretch of ground. 

When the crowd reached the place appointed, the condemned were 
stripped and fastened to as many crosses, which were of the form familiar 
to us under the name of the Roman cross, though not nearly so high as 
commonly represented. The feet of the sufferer were only a foot or two 
above the ground — a fact of some weight, as showing that Jesus suffered 
in the midst of His persecutors, and not looking down from above their 
heads. The body was either nailed or bound by cords to the cross, or in 
both ways. Our Lord was nailed, both by the hands and feet, as the 
prophets had foretold ; a method more exquisitely painful at first, though 
tending to shorten the torture. When the cross was already The cxquisi te 
standing, the sufferer was 'raised up and affixed to it; but torments of the 
otherwise, as in our Saviour’s case, He was fastened to it 
as it lay upon the ground, and the shock when it was dropped into the 
hole or socket, must have been terrible. To deaden the sense of these 
tortures, a soporific was usually administered ; but our Lord refused the 
mixture of wine and myrrh, lest it produce intoxication. He still observed 
the meek silence which Isaiah had foretold, till all the horrid details were 
accomplished, and He hung upon the cross between the two malefactors, 
on His right and on His left, being thus emphatically “ numbered with 
the transgressors.” It was then that He uttered the first of the seven 

sayings, which have ever been revered as His dying words, a prayer for 

His murderers — “ Father , forgive them , for they know not what they doT 

It was customary in executions of this kind to write the name of 
the culprit upon a scroll, and attach it to the cross above the head. In 
this case Pilate took another opportunity of mortifying the Jews, for to 
the name of Jesus he added the words “ King of the Jews,” in Hebrew, 
Greek and Latin, for which reason we have four different translations of 
the words by as many apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The 
priests sought to induce Pilate to change the title to, “He said , I am 
King of the Jews,” but he retorted angrily, “ What I have written I have 
written.” For three hours Jesus hung on the cross exposed to the taunts 

and insults of the rabble and rulers, while many asked Him to save 


7io 


Forgive Them ; for They Know Not What They Do. 


Himself, or to fulfill His prophecy to restore the temple of His body in 
three days. Even one of the thieves hanging upon a cross at His side 
joined in the cry against Him, but the other reproved the revilings of 

his comrade, and while confessing 
the justice of his own punishment, 
bore witness to the innocence of 
Jesus, and cried out, “ Lord, re- 
member me when Thou comest 
into Thy kingdom.” To this 
prayer Christ returned the gra- 
cious answer, “ To-day shalt thou 
be with Me in Paradise.” 

Death on the cross was slow, 
sometimes not within three days, 
so while Jesus was hanging and 
bearing His mortal pains, sol- 
diers remained to watch. They 
took the garments which had been 
stripped from Him and divided 
them among themselves, except 
His coat, for which they cast 
lots in fulfillment of the pro- 
phecy. 

Though toward noon the 
crowd which surrounded the 
suffering Saviour had greatly 
diminished, there still re- 
mained the three sor- 
rowing Marys bathing 
His feet with their tears. 

AND FROM THAT HOUR THAT DISCIPUE TOOK HER UNTO HIS To His mother He nOW 
OWN HOME. — John 19. 27. 1 J r 

spoke words oi encourage- 
ment, and assured her that she would find another son in John, His 
beloved disciple, who would henceforth provide a home for her. 



There Was Darkness Over All the Land Till the Ninth Hour. 71 1 

It was now noon, but such a noon as had never been seen in Judea. 
The position of the Paschal full moon precluded the possibility of a 
solar eclipse ; and yet a supernatural darkness rested upon 
all the land, from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, as if to Thc ,ast mo ‘ 

•111 • _ merits of 

veil the last agonies of the Redeemer from the eyes of man. Chrjst , s Agony. 
But far deeper than that darkness was the gloom that 
weighed upon the Saviour’s soul, as He bore the whole burden of the 
divine wrath for the sins of all men. To that awful mystery our only 
guide is in the words, with which at the ninth hour He broke the solemn 
silence, “ My God ! My God! why hast Thou forsaken Me?” words already 
used prophetically by David in the great Psalm which describes the 
Messiah’s sufferings — words which never since have been, nor ever will 
be again, wrung from any human being, except through sinful despondency 
or final impenitent despair; for He endured His Father’s desertion that 
we might never have to bear it. Their sense was lost on the bystanders, 
who, remembering the connection of the promised Elijah with Christ, 
caught at the sound “ Eli ” (. My God ) as a call for the prophet. At this 
moment the sufferer’s mortal frame endured its last agony of intense 
thirst, and, to fulfill one more prophecy, He exclaimed, “ I thirst.” One 
of the bystanders filled a sponge from a vessel standing near with the 
mixture of acid wine and water which was the common drink of the 
Roman soldiers, and lifting it on a stalk of hyssop, put it to His mouth, 
while the rest said, “ Let us see if Elijah will come to help Him.” 
Though offered in derision, it was doubtless refreshing to His sinking 
frame. 

And now all that man could inflict had been endured; all that the 
Son of God could do and bear for man had been done and suffered. 
The end of His agony and the completion of His redeeming work are 
both announced by the loud cry, “ It is Finished ;” the soul which had 
animated His mortal body is yielded back to God with those words of 
perfect resignation : “ Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit ;” 
and bowing His head upon His breast he expired. 

The death of Jesus was followed by the most awful portents, which 
threw the multitudes in Jerusalem into a condition of abject terror, and 


712 


Graves Were Opened ; and Many Bodies . . . Arose. 


led many of His enemies to declare that a most holy one had been sac- 
rificed. The priests of the Temple, as they entered the Holy of Holies 
at the very hour of His dying, saw the veil of the Temple 
rent in twain, while a mighty earthquake shook loose the 
rocks on the bluffs about Jerusalem, and sent them thun- 
dering down the hillside to the city walls ; graves were also 
burst open, and many of those who died believing on Him were per- 
mitted to visit the earth again and show themselves walking through 


Awful portents 
following the 
tragedy. 



AND THE; EARTH DID QUAKE, AND THE ROCKS RENT.— Matt. 27. 51. 


the city. The soldiers who were on watch, abashed with fear, said one 
to another, “ Surely this man was the Son of God.” 

The following day was the Mosaic Sabbath, and chanced also to be 
the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the first-fruits 
of harvest were offered in the Temple. For this reason the Jews were 
unwilling to let the bodies of Jesus and the two thieves hang on the 



A NEW SEPUECHRE, WHEREIN WAS NEVER MAN YET EAID . . . THERE EAID THEY JESUS. — 
i I John 19. 41, 42. 

still alive and suffering horribly, and dispatched them by the torture of 
breaking their legs, but when they approached Jesus they were aston- 
ished to find Him already dead. It was, therefore, considered unneces- 
sary to bruise the limbs, but to make sure of His death one of the 
soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and from the wound thus made 
flowed blood and water (serum). In this was a fulfillment of the proph- 
ecies, “ A bone of Him shall not be broken,” and “ They shall look upon 
Him whom they pierced.” 


After Three Days I Will Rise Again . 713 

cross, which would have been to them a desecration of the day. Accord- 
i n gly> they asked Pilate to send soldiers and kill the three sufferers before 
the next day should begin. Pilate then sent some of his men to complete 
the execution by breaking the limbs of the victims. 

It was toward the ninth hour, or three o’clock, when the soldiers 
came to perform their disagreeable office. They found the two thieves 


714 He Went to Pilate , and Begged the Body of Jesus . 

In the evening a rich man of Arimathsea, named Joseph, a member 
of the Sanhedrim, who had now come to believe on Jesus, went to 
Pilate and begged that he might receive the body for burial. The 
request being granted, Nicodemus, who had favored Jesus from the time 
the first complaints were made against Him to the Jewish council, 
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to embalm the corpse, after the 
manner of preparing the bodies of the Jewish kings for sepulture. 

The near approach of the Sabbath left little time for the funeral 
ceremonies, so Joseph took down the body of Jesus, and wrapping it 
The funeral hastily in fine linens, and bestrewing it with odoriferous 
of our Lord, spices, they laid it in a sepulchre which Joseph had recently 
had hewn out of a rock in a garden near by ; then to secure it over the 
Sabbath day, a large stone was rolled against the opening, after which 
Joseph, Nicodemus, and Mary Magdalene, who had prepared the body for 
final burial, departed for their several homes until the Sabbath should 
be ended. The mother of Jesus was so overcome with grief that she was 
led home by John directly after the Lord’s death, and was not with the 
others at this temporary interment. 



THIS MAN WENT UNTO PIEATE AND BEGGED THE BODY OF JESUS. — 
Duke 23. 52. 


CHAPTER IX. 


Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. 

"EVER was the measure of sorrow so full as 
on the succeeding Sabbath day (Easter eve) 
of the sixteenth of Nisan, corresponding with 
April 7 of our reckoning, which was spent by 
the disciples and other of Jesus’ friends in 
overwhelming grief ; a grief not only prompted 
by the loss of a beloved brother, teacher and 
friend, but by the greater oppression which 
sprung from the knowledge that He who had 
been crucified had died for all, that in His death 
and sacrifice the world might be redeemed to 
life everlasting. In their profound sorrow they were 
partially sustained by the hope that He would rise on 
the third day, as foretold ; but with all their faith they do 
not implicitly believe in the fulfillment of a bodily resurrection. 
The chief priests and Pharisees, impressed by the wonderful 
events and portents that had accompanied His death, seemed now 
to have more confidence in the fulfillment of the prophecy of a 
resurrection than the disciples, and in their alarm they sought permission 
of Pilate to set a watch of soldiers about the sepulchre and even placed 
a seal upon the stone that covered the tomb, under a pretence that if 
not so guarded the body might be stolen away, and the disciples then 
claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. 

In the middle watch of the Sabbath night, suddenly there appeared 
to the soldiers on guard at the tomb a dazzling light, out of which came 
an angel that broke the seal of the sepulchre, and then rolling away the 
stone, sat upon it. So great was the soldiers’ alarm at this wonderful 

(715) 



716 


And Behold There Was a Great Earthquake . 


apparition that they fell down in a faint, but soon recovering themselves, 
they ran away from their post of duty to Jerusalem and reported what 
had befallen them. 

The morning of the third day, after the Jewish Sabbath — the Satur- 
day of our reckoning — had scarcely dawned, when the two Marys and 
Visit of the two certain other women, among whom was one named Joanna 
Marys to the (or Salome, as some writers call her), started toward the 
tomb. tomb, taking spices and linens with which to embalm the 

body, contriving in their minds, as they walked thither, how they should 
remove the stone. It was before sunrise when they reached the sepul- 
chre, the light of day having just begun to break in the eastern 
portals, and to throw athwart the high heavens pencils of golden beams. 
As .they came near, their surprise was very great to discover that the large 
stone had been rolled aside, by which they believed that some one had 
come in the night and taken away the precious body of their Lord. But 
to make sure, they stooped and peered into the half-darkened tomb when, 
behold, they saw an angel sitting at the far end of the grave clothed in 
a long white garment. Affrighted at the vision, they would have run 
away, had not the angel spoken assuring words, saying: “You seek 
Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, but is risen. See the place 
where they laid Him. Go, therefore, and tell His disciples that Jesus is 
risen from the dead ; He will go before you into Galilee, and there you 
shall see Him.” 

With mingled fear and joy the women hastened away to carry the 
glad news to the disciples, but as they went they met Jesus Himself, who 
Rejoice ye, for addressed them, saying: “Rejoice ye, for it is I.” Their 
il is L happiness was inexpressible, save in the manner in which 

they greeted Him, for with tears of joy they fell at His feet and wor- 
shiped Him, pouring out their souls in thankfulness. After this tender 
greeting, Jesus bade them, as had the angel, to go seek the disciples to 
tell them what had happened. Accordingly they carried the joyful tidings 
to John and Peter, both of whom, however, received the news with incredu- 
lity, but they, nevertheless, ran to the sepulchre to satisfy themselves. John 
was first to reach the tomb, which he found open but hesitated to enter, 



( 717 ) 


THE ANGEL OF THE LORD DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN AND CAME AND ROLLED BACK THE STONE. Matt. 28. 






yiS Say Ye , His Disciples Came by Night and Stole Him Away. 

possessed of some indefinable fear. Peter, more ardent and excitable than 
his companion, immediately entered the sepulchre, where he found the linen 
clothes with which the body had been wrapped, and also the napkin that 
was used to bind about the head of his Lord. John now also entered the 
tomb, and seeing the things that had been left there, at once believed all 
that had been told by the Marys, but Peter only wondered, for he had not 
fully understood the prophecies which Jesus had given of His resurrection on 
the third day. 

The news of Christ having risen spread rapidly throughout all 
Jerusalem. The soldiers had made the first report, but this was partially 
Effects of the suppressed by the chief priests, who gave them a sum of 
report that Jesus money to declare publicly that while they were asleep some 
friends of Jesus had entered the sepulchre and stolen the 
body. This report was circulated, but while it satisfied many of the Jews, 
and especially the enemies of Jesus, it did not check the rapidly spreading 
news that He had indeed risen, and appeared to the women who had gone 
to the tomb early in the morning. 

Mary Magdalene was next to visit the sepulchre, and as she stood 
weeping at the entrance and looked in, she perceived two angels standing, 
one at the foot and the other at the head, where the body of Jesus had 
lain. They asked her why she was weeping, to which she replied : 
“ Because they have taken my Lord away, and I know not where they 
have laid Him.” But as she was turning away in her despair she saw 
Jesus standing before her. Perhaps half-blinded by tears, or not observing 
particularly, she did not recognize Him, believing that the person was a 
keeper of the garden, and therefore addressed Him as such. The one 
word “ MaryP which Jesus now uttered, served to fully recall Himself to 
her, and the recognition being now complete, she rushed forward to embrace 
Him. He did not suffer her, however, to worship Him as she had desired 
to do, saying : “ Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father,” 
but He sent her to foretell to His disciples that He would soon ascend 
to heaven. With all this concurrent testimony, all the apostles, save John, 
still doubted the reports of Jesus having risen, but their disbelief was 
soon to be fully removed. 



ENTERING INTO THE SEPULCHRE THEY SAW A YOUNG MAN SITTING ON THE SIDE CLOTHED IN 4 

LONG WHITE GARMENT.— Mark 16. 5. (719) 


720 After That He Appeared in Another Form Unto Two of Them. 

On the evening of the same day that He was risen two of His disciples 
were journeying to Emmaus, conversing, as they went, of the crucifixion 
and reported resurrection of Jesus, and condoling with one another in 
their great sorrow. While they were thus talking Jesus overtook them, 
jesus walks with traveling on the same road, and asked what was the subject 
two of his of their conversation, and why they appeared so sad. To 
disciples. tHi S inquiry Cleopas, one of the two, answered, “ Art Thou 
a stranger in Jerusalem, that Thou hast not heard of the things which 
have happened there in the past few days ?” “ What things ?” inquired 

Jesus. “ Why,” replied they, “ the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, 
who was a prophet, and did great miracles before all the people ; how the 
chief priests and rulers have taken and crucified Him.” Continuing, they 
said, “ We have hoped that He was the One who would set the children 
of Israel free from the Romans ; and, besides all this, to-day is the third 
day since He was put to death, and it is told us that He is risen.” 

Jesus now fell to talking with the two disciples, who failed to recognize 
Him because, it is said, He was so greatly changed in His appearance. 
He told them that the things of which they had spoken were only strange 
because they had not understood what had been written by the prophets; 
“For,” said He, “have not these spoken how Christ should be put to 
death and rise again on the third day?” Finding that the two disciples 
were not learned in the history of the Jews, and of the prophecies that 
had been uttered, He recited to them all the things that were foretold, 
and how the same had been fulfilled. Thus they conversed until it was 
very late in the evening, and they had gained their destination, and 
having found Jesus an interesting companion, they invited Him to spend 
the night with them. At supper time the three went together to eat, 
probably at an inn, where Jesus took up a loaf of bread, and after giving 
thanks, broke and gave to them. By this act, and the blessing which 
Discovers Him- He invoked, they discovered that their mysterious companion 
seif to His com- was none other than Jesus Himself, but simultaneously 
with this revelation He suddenly vanished from their sight, 
leaving them in a condition that was mingled with surprise, wonder, joy 
and confusion. 


Afterward He Appeared Unto the Eleven as They Sat at Meat. 721 



Though the two apostles were fairly overcome with astonishment, 
and knew not what so strange an occurrence signified, their faith in the 
reports as to Christ’s resurrection was increased, and to inform themselves 
they rose up from the supper- 
table and hastened back to 
Jerusalem to a house 
where the other apos- 
tles were gathered 
together. To these 
they related what 
had occurred, but 
their story was 
received with 
many expres- 
sions of disbelief. 

While they were 
speaking of these 
strange things 
suddenly Jesus 
appeared in their 
midst, who, see- 
i n g that 
they were 
much fright- 
en ed, believing 
Him to be a 
spirit, addressed 
them, saying, 

“ Peace be unto 
vou Whv are HE TOOK BREAD > AND massed it.— L uke 24. 30. 

you troubled ? and why do doubts arise in your hearts ? behold My hands 
and My feet, that it is I Myself : handle Me and see ; for a spirit hath no 
flesh and bones as you see Me have.” Unable to reply, because of their 
astonishment, they sat mute, wondering and yet joyful, until He asked 
46 


722 The Other Disciples Said Unto Him , We Have Seen the Lord . 


them for something to eat, whereat they offered Him a piece of broiled 
fish and some comb-honey, which He ate before them. Having thus 
refreshed Himself, Jesus began to teach as He had before being crucified; 
“ Peace be reminding them again that as He had been sent by the Father 
unto you.** preach to the world, so now did He Himself send His 

disciples on a like errand. Having thus instructed them He disappeared, 
and soon after another disciple, named Thomas, who was not present with 
the others when Jesus manifested Himself, now entered the room. He was 
greeted with joyful cries from his companions, “We have seen the Lord, 
we have seen the Lord.” These assurances, added to the reports which he 
had already received from those who declared Jesus had risen, yet failed 
to convince the doubting Thomas, who said, “ Except I shall see in His 
hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the wounds, and 
thrust my hand into His side, where the spear pierced Him, I will not 
believe He is risen.” 

Eight days after His appearance to all the disciples Jesus again 
manifested Himself at another gathering of the apostles, at which Thomas 
Christ removes was present. As he came into their midst Jesus spoke to 
the doubts of ‘Thomas, saying, “ Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into 
Thomas. My side, and be no longer faithless, but believe that I have 
risen again.” Hearing that voice, as well as seeing His beloved form, 
was now enough to convince Thomas, who responded, in the fervor of 
his adoration, “ My Lord and my God.” Jesus now taught His disciples 
again in their duties as holy messengers sent by God to teach the way 
to heaven. 

Some time after this, but how long the apostles fail to tell us, 
Jesus again showed Himself in Galilee at the Sea of Tiberias. There 
Miraculous were, at this manifestation, seven of the disciples together, 
draught of fishes, who were engaged in fishing, and had been casting their 
nets during the whole night before without success. In the morning, as 
they returned homeward in their boats, they discovered a man standing 
on the shore who called to them, saying, “ Children, have ye any meat ?” 
But they were compelled to answer “ No,” since they had been unable 
to take so much as a single fish in their hard labors over night. Christ 




* 





724 Jesus Then Cometh , and Taketh Bread, and Giveth Them. 

bade them cast their nets on the right side of the boat, assuring them 
that by so doing they would be rewarded by a goodly haul. And they 
did so and caught such a large number of fish that they were not able 
to draw the nets. This wonderful result caused John to exclaim, “ It is 
the Lord !” Upon hearing this, and perceiving that it must be so, Peter, 
who was naked, hastily put 011 his fisher’s coat, and casting himself into 
the sea swam to the shore to greet Jesus. The other disciples remained 
in the boat, and slowly dragged the great net filled with fishes to the 
land, reaching which they found a fire kindled and fish laid thereon 
cooking, while bread was provided for all to eat. Peter helped to secure 
the fish, which were one hundred and fifty-three in number, and of such 
large size that the disciples wondered the net was not broken. 

Forty days after His crucifixion, the last meeting of the Lord 
and His disciples occurred on a mountain in Galilee, an event that 
jcsus delivers He had spoken of prophetically before the crucifixion. 
h«s last As he had begun His public teaching in Galilee, so 

discourse. was a pp 0 inted that in Galilee He should end it. 

Therefore all the disciples were called together upon a high hill near 
Bethsaida, and to them Jesus now delivered His last discourse. He 
reminded them that God had given Him all power in both heaven and 
earth, but that His power was for good and not to do evil; this power, 
in measure, He now delegated to the disciples, and bade them go and 
preach the gospel to all nations, and to baptize them in the name of the 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and to do all things heretofore commanded. 
While He addressed His disciples many others came to the place, being, no 
doubt, attracted by rumors which they had heard of Jesus having risen, 
and particularly by the spectacle of twelve men assembled upon the moun- 
tain. To these, who numbered five hundred, it was given to know that 
Jesus had indeed returned in the flesh, and they therefore became witnesses 
to the truth of His resurrection. 

After delivering to His disciples a solemn discourse on their duties as 
ministers of the gospel, He led them down the mountain and to Bethany, 
which was on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives from the city 
of Jerusalem, and there having given them His parting blessing, a bright 


725 


And a Cloud Received Him Out of Tlieir Sight. 



cloud interposed between them and Him, like the chariot and horses of fire 
that separated Blijali from Elisha; and upborne by this car of golden 
cloud, He was carried away to 
heaven. Meanwhile the c 
scarcely recollected that f 
but what He had Himself 
told : “ What and if ye 
shall see the Son of Man 
ascend up where He was 
before?” They stood 
gazing up after Him as 
if He had been lost for- 
ever, till they were awak- 
ened from their stupor by 
the appearance of two 
angels standing by them, 
and declaring that this 
same Jesus, who was 
taken from them into 
heaven, should so come 
in like manner as the}^ 
had seen Him go into 
heaven — words which can 
only refer to the final 
advent of our Lord, and 
which teach us that He 
shall be seen descending 
from the riven sky as 
plainly, and as unexpect- 
edly, as He passed into 
it from their eyes. With 

„ . WHIEE THEY BEHEED, HE WAS TAKEN UP.— Acts i. o. 

this agrees His own warn- 
ing of “the sign of the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven, 
with power and great glory,” and the words of the final Scripture 


726 Behold , Two Men Stood Beside Them in White Apparel. 

prophecy, “ Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see 
Him.” 

We cannot more fitly conclude this narrative of our Saviour’s life on 
earth, 111 which we aimed to bring into one view the records of the four 
Evangelists with as much brevity as possible, than by calling attention 
to the two points insisted on by St. John: — First, that we have only a 
small part of our Lord’s sayings and doings in the presence of His dis- 
ciples, for the world itself could hardly have contained the record of the 
whole ; but, finally, that all we do possess has been written with this sole 
object, “ that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 
and that, believing, we might have life through His name.” 



TO GOD ONI/V WISE, BE GEORY THROUGH JESUS.— Romans 16. 27. 


CHAPTER X. 



And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire. 

ETURNING to Jerusalem from the place of ascension, in 
compliance with the Lord’s command the eleven apostles 
awaited with burning anxiety a manifestation of the Holy 
Spirit, which had been promised. This period of waiting 
they spent in an upper room each evening, praying and 
giving thanks to God for the gift of His precious Son, and 
during the day they gathered in the Temple to preach the resur- 
rection and ascension of our Lord. The meetings of the apostles 
were increased by one hundred and nine disciples who came 
to join in the praise-giving, so that the number of worshipers 
was one hundred and twenty, who received the designation of 
brethren. At one of these assemblages, Peter delivered an 
address, w r herein he reminded his brethren that Jesus had 
stricken the name of Judas from the list of His chosen apostles, and desired 
that another be elected in his place. Therefore, said he, “Of those who have 
been faithful unto Jesus since His baptism it is proper that we select one to 
fill the place of Judas, and who will go with us to preach the A succcssor 
gospel as our lord commanded.” This suggestion being to judas 
received with approval, the disciples selected two men worthy 
of the appointment, whose names were Joseph, also called Barsabas, and 
Matthias, and after praying the Lord to direct them in their choice, they 
cast lots to determine which of the two should be the successor of Judas. 
The result was favorable to Matthias, who was henceforth counted as one of 
the twelve apostles beloved of God. 

Ten days after the ascension was the Feast of Pentecost, which was 
the annual celebration of the harvest gathering, and as all faithful Jews 
observed this day, the disciples met together at one place to offer up their 

(727) 



728 They Were All of One Accord in One Place. 

thanks. While thus engaged suddenly they heard a sound like the 
rushing of a great wind from heaven, which filled the house with lambent 
flames shaped like forked tongues and rested upon the head of each 
The gift of disciple. This was the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, 
many tongues. as h ac i b een promised, and immediately each disciple began to 
speak in a foreign 
tongue, which was 
the sign given that 


THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM CEOVEN 
TONGUES EIRE AS OF FIRE.— Acts 2. 3. 

they were now prepared to preach to all 
nations. 

Now there were present at this wonderful meeting many Jews and others 
who had come from far countries where different languages were spoken, 
so when they heard the disciples preaching in these several tongues 
they inquired in their astonishment, “ Do not all these men live in 
Galilee? How, then, are they able to speak the languages of those 


7 29 



ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that 
which was spoken by the prophet Joel : Jesus of Nazareth, a man 
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders, which God did 
by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves all know ; Him have ye 
taken and by wicked hands have crucified. But God hath raised Him 
up and hath given Him power over death. Therefore let all the house 
of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom 
ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the audience heard this 
declaration they became much distressed, and, grieving for what had 


H ow Hear W e Every Man in His Own Tongue ? 

countries from whence we come ?” Some of those from Jerusalem, how- 
ever, unable to understand what was spoken, made sport of the disciples 
and declared that they were drunkards, come to profane the services. 
Peter rebuked them for this unjust accusation, and, addressing himself to 
Israel, said, “Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this 
known unto you, and hearken to my words: These are not drunken, as 


HE WENT ABOUT SEEKING SOME TO BEAD HIM BY THE HAND. — Acts. 13. n. 



73° The Sun Shall be Turned Into Darkness , and the Moon Into Blood 

been done, said to Peter and the other apostles, “ Men and brethren, 
what shall we do ?” The reply came thundering back, loud but compas- 
sionate, “ Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus 
Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 

Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, 
and to your children ; and to all that are afar 
off.” Many gladly received 


SIRS, WHY DO YE THESE THINGS? WE ALSO ARE MEN OF DIKE PASSIONS WITH YOU. — Acts. 14 15. 


this promise and were baptized, and in the evening there were added 
to the original Church of one hundred and twenty souls, three thousand 
redeemed Jews, and the number rapidly grew under the powerful preach- 
ing of Peter and the wondrous signs which God showed the people. 

On one of the days of this spiritual outpouring among the people, 
John and Peter were going together to the Temple to continue their exhor- 
tations, when, reaching what is called the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, 


Ye Men of Israel, Why Marvel Ye at This ? 


7 3 1 





they saw a poor man who had been lame from his birth, lying there 
asking for alms. His appeal for help excited the compassion of the two 
apostles, who told him to look upon them, probably to scrutinize his 
countenance and discover if he were worthy of their assistance. 

Having thus satisfied themselves, Peter said, “Silver and gold 
have I none; 

but such as I 
have I give thee : 

In the name of 
Jesus Christ of 
Nazareth rise up 
and walk,” 
and taking the 
beggar by the 
hand he as- 
sisted him to 
rise, whereat 
the man immedi- 
ately received 
strength, and felt 
so thoroughly restored that 
he began leaping and prais- 
ing God, and followed the 
worshipers into the Tem- 

-• /t\i 11 GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT. — Acts 8 20 

pie. The people who saw 

this miracle performed were much excited and many at once confessed 
their sins, accepting it as an evidence of the divine commission of the 
apostles, and of the truths they taught. The success of the apostles was 
therefore so great that the old spirit of jealousy was again excited in the 
priests and Saddncees, who resorted to extreme measures to prevent the 
further teaching that Jesus was the Christ, and through Him was the 
resurrection of the dead. The apostles were seized by soldiers and cast 
into prison, where they remained until the following day, when they 
were brought to trial for preaching what was called a pernicious doctrine. 


’>r- 


73 2 Indeed a Notable Miracle Hath Been Done by Them . 



On the next day there was a meeting of the council, or Sanhedrim, 
before which Peter and John were summoned to answer the complaints 
made against them. To the inquiry first addressed them, 
The trial of the concerning the healing of the lame man, “By what power 
and in whose name have ye done this ? ” Peter replied, 
that “ it was in the name of Jesus whom ye crucified, whom God raised 
from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” 
“ This,” said he, “ is the stone (Jesus) which was set at naught by your 
builders (chief priests), which is become the head of the corner. Neither 

is there salvation in any other: 
for there is none other name un- 
der heaven given among men 
whereby we must be saved.” 

This fearless answer con- 
fused Annas and Caiaphas, the 
high-priests, which was increased 
by the healed man be- 
ing brought before them, 
and the further proof of 
the true mission of Peter, 
g him to have been an ignorant 
man but now given to speak with the elo- 
quence and wisdom of the most learned. 
With all this evidence, however, they would no doubt have condemned 
the apostles, save for the fact that there were now five thousand converts 
to the new teaching who stood ready to defend their faith and the lives 
of the preachers as well. 

The council was adjourned without taking further action, to give 
opportunity for the members to discuss, among themselves, a plan for 
repressing the apostles. In debating the matter they admitted the mir- 
acle performed by John and Peter, and acknowledged that it was impru- 
dent to attempt to deny it in the face of their own convictions and 
the thousands of witnesses who had testified to its performance. The 
only course left them therefore was to attempt intimidation. Accordingly, 


THE TOMB OF DORCAS. 


733 



All Men Glorified God for That Which was Done. 

they called Peter and John again before them, and threatened to visit 
upon them an extreme punishment if they persisted in preaching to the 
people. Peter boldly answered, “Whether it be right in the sight of 
God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot 
but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” The council 
would gladly have made good 
their threats but for the om- 
inous attitude of five thousand 
persons that had been converted 
by the apostles,' so, after renew- 
ing their warning, the council 
wisely let them go. 

The apostles, having been 
liberated, went immediately to 
their many friends and assem- 
bled them together to give thanks 
for their escape and for the nu- 
merous conversions that had 
blessed their work. While they 
were thus engaged in prayer 
the building in which they were gath- 
ered suddenly began to shake, whereat 
Peter and John knew that Jesus was 
with them and that He had thus man- 
ifested His presence and will to aid 
them in all things. 

After this the disciples preached go, stand and speak in the tempee.— 
even more boldly than before, and their 

labors grew constantly more fruitful. Of their many converts, a great 
number who owned houses or lands, sold their possessions and brought 
the money so obtained to the apostles for distribution among the 
poor. Among those who sought the grace of Jesus through this means 
was a man named Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, who sold their lands, 
but by agreement between themselves they brought only a portion of 



734 Ananias , Hearing These Words , Fell Down and Gave Up the Ghost . 

the money to the apostles, averring, however, that they freely gave all 
that had been received. Ananias came first to Peter with the portion 
he had intended to give, and made his avowal that for the whole of his 
possessions this was all the money he had received. But Peter, having 
miraculous fore-knowledge of what was done, said to him : “ Ananias, 
was not the land thine own before it was sold, so that thou didst not 
have to sell it? And was not the money thine own after it was sold, 


PETER AROSE AND WENT WITH THEM . . . INTO THE UPPER CHAMBER. — Acts 9. 39. 

to keep it if thou didst want it? Why hast thou let Satan tempt thee 
to lie to the Holy Ghost ? ” And when Peter had thus rebuked him 
for falsifying to God with the belief that such falsehood would procure 
for him the position of a true disciple, Ananias fell down dead, pun- 
ished with the divine wrath. His body was speedily taken up by some 
young men present, who, after attiring it in grave-clothes, carried it away 
for burial. A few hours after this tragic event Sapphira, not knowing 
what had happened, came to the place where the disciples were. And 


The Angel of the Lord by Night Opened the Prison Doors . 735 


The miracles 
of Peter. 


Peter asked her, saying, a Tell me, was the money thy husband brought 
us, all that you received for the land?” She answered, “Yes.” And 
Peter said to her, “ Why have you agreed together to try and deceive 
the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the men are at the door who have just 
buried thy husband, and they shall also carry thee out.” Then she too 
fell down at Peter’s feet and died instantly. And the young men who 
had just buried Ananias returned in time to carry out her body also 
and lay it beside her husband. 

This summary vengeance taken by God inspired great fear among 
those who had been insincere* and prevented those given to worldly con- 
ceits from entering the Church, but its effects were salutary 
in the end, since it kept out those of impure motives, and 
increased the fate of others, so that the work of conversion 
continued. Daily the apostles assembled on the portico of Solomon’s 
Temple, and not only preached to the people but performed many miracles. 
Multitudes came into Jerusalem to hear Peter who healed the sick that 
were brought to him, and many of those afflicted were restored to health 
by being carried upon their beds close enough to the apostle for his 
shadow to fall upon them. 

The jealousy and indignation of the Sadducees, at seeing the gospel 
spreading so rapidly, became so intense that at length they defied popular 
sentiment, and rudely seizing the two most prominent apostles, John and 
Peter, first thrust them into prison, where they were speedily joined by 
their no more fortunate brethren. On the same night, however, an angel 
opened the doors of the prison and set all the apostles free, and in the 
morning they were again on the portico preaching and healing as before. 

When the Sanhedrim met on the following day they received a report 
of the miraculous deliverance, which they themselves confirmed by an 
examination of the prison bars and the guards. Fearing to do them open 
violence the council had the apostles brought again before them and put 
the same question as before, “ Why speak ye of Jesus contrary to our 
commands ? ” Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 
“ We ought to obey God rather than men. That Jesus whom you slew on 
the cross, God has raised up again, as a Saviour, to give the Jews new 


736 They Ceased Not to Teach and Preach Jesus Christ. 



and penitent hearts, and forgive them their sins. And we, His apostles, 
are sent to tell you of these things.” 

When the high-priest and the rulers heard what the apostles said, 
they were filled with madness against them, and talked with one another 

about putting 
them to death. 
Then stood up 
one of the 
rulers, a learned 
man named Ga- 
maliel, the pre- 
ceptor of Paul, 
who was much 
thought of by 
all the Jews, and 
he commanded 
that the apostles 
should be sent 
out of the coun- 
7 cil for a little 

\\ hile. When they had 
gone Gamaliel said, 
“Ye rulers of Israel, 
be careful what ye do 
to these men. For a 
good while ago, a man 
named Theudas rose 
up, pretending that he was some great person, and about four hundred 
men followed him and obeyed what he told them. But before long he was 
slain, and all who had obeyed him separated from one another. Afterward 
another man, named Judas, of Galilee, persuaded many persons to follow 
him, but he also perished, and those who had gone with him were scattered. 
And now, I say to you, Let these men alone and do them no harm ; for 
if what they teach be untrue it will soon come to nothing ; but if God has 


BEHOLD, I AM HE WHOM YE SEEK.- 
Acts 10. 21. 


Stephen , Full of Faith and Power , Did Great Wonders. 737 

sent them to speak no one may resist His servants.” The wisdom of 
Gamaliel prevailed with the council, to overcome the decision that had 
already been made to put the apostles to death, but he could not prevent 
wholly their punishment, for they were severely scourged, as was permitted 
by the law, and again forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus. 

Instead of the stripes which they received repressing their ardor, the 
apostles gloried in having suffered for Jesus’ sake, and seemed to have 
redoubled their exertions, for the service which they now seven deacons 
held both in the streets and Temple was continuous. Nor chosen to dis- 
was their labor less rewarded, for so many now became con- tnbute a,ms * 
verted that it became necessary to effect some kind of organization for 
the Church government. This step became more urgent by reason of 
complaints which the poor made to Peter that they were not receiving a 
proper share of the common fund. At a council, therefore, held by the 
apostles, it was decided to elect seven deacons, chosen from among those 
held in highest favor by reason of their upright character, whose duties 
were to distribute the contributions among the worthy and to superintend 
the “ service of tables,” which would relieve the apostles and thus allow 
them to devote their entire time to prayer and the ministry. The seven 
that were so chosen were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, 
Nicolas and Parmenas. Stephen, the most zealous of the number, not 
only attended to the poor but gave much of his time to preaching and 
performing miracles, the gift of which was given him when he became a 
deacon. 

So energetic, bold and successful did Stephen become as a teacher in 
public places, that not only the Sadducees, but the Pharisees also, became 
violently jealous of him. Charges of blasphemy were preferred, upon 
which he was apprehended and brought to answer before the Sanhedrim. 
After hearing the false witnesses speak and perceiving the intent of the 
council, Stephen spoke in his own behalf, not with cringing words or 
petitions for mercy, but with the same fearlessness that had characterized 
his preaching. He repeated to his judges the story of Moses, of Abra- 
ham, of Jacob and of Joseph, how they had suffered at the hands of 
wicked men for opinion’s sake, but that in the end they had triumphed, 


47 


738 They Cast Him Out of the City and Stoned Him . 

while their enemies were made to eat of the bread of sore affliction. 
Stephen concluded his speech after this manner, “ The wickedness of your 
fathers have ye inherited; as they did, so do ye now. Which of the 
prophets did they not persecute ? And even now yourselves have slain 
Jesus, the Messiah, that Just One Himself.” 

When the men in the council heard these words, they were filled 
with rage against Stephen, and gnashed on him with their teeth 
Stephen is like wild beasts. But he, looking up toward heaven, saw a 
stoned to death, glorious light there, and Jesus standing at the right hand 
of God. And he said, “ I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at 
the right hand of God.” Then they cried out with loud voices against 
him, and stopped their ears that they might not hear his words; and 
they brought him out of the city and stoned him. While they were 
stoning him, he kneeled down on the ground and prayed, saying, “ Lord, 
lay not this sin to their charge.” 

Punishment by stoning was instituted by Moses and was comparatively 
common among the Jews as long as their nationality existed. The law 
Saul the bitter required that the witnesses against the offender should cast 
persecutor. the fi rs t s tone, but in the case of Stephen there were several 
witnesses, who, to allow more freedom for their arms took off their outer 
garments, or togas, and gave them to a young man to hold while they 
should bruise out the life of this holy disciple of Jesus. This young man, 
who took charge of the divested garments, was Saul, the son of a rich 
man, an intense hater of the Christians, but of whom he afterward became 
an equally earnest supporter, as we shall presently see. This man, who 
was an officer of the Pharisees, most probably, seems to have been stimu- 
lated to a greater passion by the sight of blood, and he entered into a 
persecution of the Christians with such fierce zeal, scourging them in the 
synagogues, and committing men and women to prison, that the disciples 
were compelled to flee to other countries for refuge, but wherever they 
went they continued preaching the gospel. 

Philip went into Samaria, where he performed many miracles, and 
accomplished so many wonderful cures among the sick and lame that 
great numbers embraced the religion which he taught, and were baptized. 


Philip Went Down to the City of Samaria and Preached Christ. 739 



Peter and John, hearing of his good success in Samaria, soon followed, 
and the three labored there with such good results that thousands were 
added to the Church. It was here that they met an imposter named 
Simon, who, by methods of his own, not understood at the time, performed 
many wonderful 
things which the peo- 
ple regarded as a 
manifesta- 
tion of di- 
vine power. 

This man 
was also 
convert- 
ed by the 
preaching 
and mira- 
cles of Pe- 
ter, and be- 
came thor- 
oughly re- 
pentant for the 
wickedness he 
had practiced. 

After re- 
maining some 
time thus in Sa- 
maria, by com- 
mand of the Lord, Philip 
quitted the country and 
went to Gaza, a city to the west of Jerusalem. While on his way he was 
overtaken by an Ethiopian eunuch, who was returning from Jerusalem, where 
he had been to worship at the Temple. This man was an officer under 
Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, who was in the line of succession from the 
Queen of Sheba. 


LORD, I.AY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE. — Acts 7. 60. 


740 


Suddenly There Shined Round About Him a Light. 


As he came near, Philip perceived that the eunuch was reading 
aloud from the Scripture, which made him bold to inquire, “ Dost thou 
understand what thou readest?” To which the eunuch replied, “How 
can I, except some man shall explain to me ?” And he then invited 
Philip to sit with him in the chariot, which was thankfully accepted. 
Philip now began teaching him and explaining the way of salvation 
through Christ, which so affected the eunuch that when they came to a 
stream of water he begged the apostle to baptize him. Philip acceded to 
this request, and led the eunuch into the water, where he baptized him 
in the name of Jesus. Immediately after Philip was caught up by the 
Holy Spirit and disappeared, but the eunuch continued on his way filled 
with joy, and giving praise for this manifestation of God’s love for him. 
Philip’s next appearance was at a city called Azotus, where he preached 
for a time with wonderful success, and continued his triumphal career 
through all the western cities until he came to Caesarea. 

News of the success which attended the apostles in all parts of the 
Holy Land reached Jerusalem every day, and particularly of the numerous 
. , , conversions then being made at Damascus. This so aroused 
the ire of Saul that he sought and received of the high-priest 
at Jerusalem permission, through concurrence of the priests 
at Damascus, to seize any disciples which he might find there and to 
bring them to Jerusalem for punishment. 

Armed with the necessary authority, Saul set out at the head of a 
guard of soldiers for Damascus, with his heart steeled against mercy. 
But as he approached near the city suddenly an intense light flashed out 
from heaven full upon the persecutor, which so dazzled him that he fell 
to the ground in great fear, and as he lay there he heard a voice crying to 
him from out the streaming rays, “ Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 
Me ? ” And Saul knew that the voice came not from one of this earth, 
so he answered, “ Who art thou, Lord ? ” How much more frightened 
must he have been on hearing the reply, “ I am Jesus, whom thou per- 
secutest.” Humble now, and perhaps realizing on the sudden how great 
had been his iniquity, and how much he deserved punishment, in a trem- 
bling voice Saul cried, “ Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? ” “ Arise,” 


conversion 
of Saul. 


He is a Chosen Vessel Unto Me, to Bear My Name. 741 



days he could 
At the time of 
in the city a 
converted to 


was the command, “ and go into the city, and it will be told thee what to 
do.” Then Saul arose, but his sight was so blinded and his body so 
weak from fear that he could not walk, so that his soldiers had to carry 
him into Damascus, and for three 
not see, neither did he eat nor drink. 

Saul’s visit to Damascus there lived 
man named Ananias, who had been 
Christianity some time before, and was 
an energetic disciple. To this man the 
Lord spoke, commanding him to go 
at once into a street called Straight, 
and there ask at the house of one 
Judas for a person named Saul : 

“ He is now praying to Me, and 
has seen thee in a vision, coming 
to him, and putting thy hand 
on him, that he may receive his 
sight.” Ananias was not only sur- 
prised at thus hearing the voice 
of God, but especially to receive 
such a command, and he even ex- 
postulated, saying, “ I have heard 
many speak of this man, and of 
the great evil he has done to Thy 
people in Jerusalem ; and he has come here with 
letters from the chief priests, giving him power to bind 
in fetters all who believe on Thee.” But the Lord 
said, “ Go, as I have told thee, for I have chosen 
him to preach My gospel to the Gentiles, and to kings, and to the children 
of Israel. And I will show him what great sufferings he must bear for My 
sake.” 

Then Ananias obeyed and went into the house of Judas, and putting 
his hands on Saul, said, “ Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to 
thee as thou wast coming to Damascus, has sent me -to put my hands on 


THE IRON GATE . . . 
OPENED TO THEM 
OE HIS OWN AC- 
CORD. — Acts 12. 10. 


742 


They Watched the Gates Day and Night to Kill Him. 



thee, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy 
Ghost.” And immediately Saul’s eyes were opened and he could see ; 
and he rose up and was baptized. 

After being thus converted, and seeing the hand of God in all that 
had been done for him, Saul, who is henceforth called Paul, began at 
once preaching in the synagogues with all the fervor and faith that had 
charac- k terized Peter and John. The people were, of course, amazed 
at this j^, sudden change, and were at first disposed to believe he had 
adopted 
this appear- 
ance of con- 


version 


in 


AND SOME CRIED ONE THING, SOME 
ANOTHER, AMONG THE MUI/TlTUDE.— 


Acts 21. 34. 


order the better to discover who were professing Christians. The power 
of his speech, however, won many to join the disciples, while his accu- 
sations against those who had denied and crucified Christ so angered the 
Jews at Damascus that they sought his life. Their threats and passions 
increased until a watch was set upon him, and they would no doubt have 
seized and stoned him had not some of his friends secreted him in a 
house and at night let him down in a basket over the wall so that he 
might escape from the city. Paul went from Damascus to Jerusalem and 
sought the disciples who still remained there, but they were afraid to 


He Spoke Boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus . 743 



fellowship with him until Barnabas, one of their number, told them of 
the strange circumstances of Paul’s conversion, and how the hostile Jews 
were conspiring against his life. Paul was soon compelled to flee from 
Jerusalem, and he 
went to his native 
city of Tarsus, in 
Asia Minor, where 
he continued to 
preach for some 
time. 

Peter and John 
likewise went from 
town to town, 
preaching and 
healing the sick 
and founding 
churches, until 
there were at this 
time, A. D. 50, 
nearly one hun- 
dred established 
congre gations . 

One of these Peter 
founded at Lydda, 
where he miracu- 
lously healed a 
man named Eneas, 
who had been bed- 
ridden from palsy 
for eight years. 

This miracle led 

him to the performance of one greater, and by which the Church was 
increased along the Mediterranean coast. Near Lydda was the seaport of 
Joppa, which is a considerable city at this day. Residing there at the 


MANY OF THEM . . . BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED 
THEM BEFORE ADD MEN.— Acts 19. 19. 


744 It Came to Pass in Those Days That She was Sick and Died. 

time was a woman named Dorcas, who was widely known for her great 
charities, and for all those accomplishments which ennoble woman. It 
The resurrection chanced that she fell sick, and after a short illness died. 

of Dorcas. Her d ea th was bewailed by all the inhabitants of Joppa, 
many of whom came to pay honors to the body. 

It was dressed with much care, and embalmed with sweet spices and 
camphor, and clothed with rich winding sheets, and laid in an upper 
chamber preparatory to burial. Some of the disciples of the city, learning 
that Peter was then preaching in a neighboring town, and performing 



many miracles, sent two messengers bearing a request for him to come 
quickly to Joppa. To this Peter promptly responded, and was taken at 
once to the chamber where the beloved body lay. Here he found many 
widows and others whom she had helped in their troubles, and these 
began to offer their eulogies on the numerous godly merits she had 
possessed. But Peter, with some impatience, bade them leave the room, 
and then kneeling down he prayed, after which he arose and calling to 
the dead body said, “ Dorcas, arise ! ” At the sound of his voice the 
woman sat up and appeared as one who had just awakened from a 
refreshing sleep. Peter now called to those without the room, and when 


745 


Wherein Were All Manner of Four-footed Beasts. 

they entered Dorcas received them, restored to life, and health as well. 
The fame of this miracle spread rapidly, and caused many to join the 
Church in Joppa, besides resulting in the greatest good throughout all 
the cities of western Palestine. 

During the time of Peter’s stay in Joppa, a singular thing occurred 
to Cornelius, a Roman centurion who loved God, by which he was 
brought to Peter for baptism. This man was noted for his conversion and 
generosity to the poor, on which account he had great favor baptism of 

with the Lord and his people as well. It is related that Cornelius, 

about the ninth hour of the day Cornelius beheld a vision of an angel 
approaching him, which he addressed, “ What is it, Lord?” The angel 
replied, “ God has heard thy pra}7ers, and seen the alms which thou 
hast given. Now send men to Joppa for a man named Peter, who is 
staying at the house of Simon, a tanner, which is by the seaside ; when 
he has come he will tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” Thus saying 
the angel vanished. Cornelius at once called two servants and one of 
his soldiers, in whom he had the most confidence, and, first relating what 
had befallen him, he sent them quickly to Joppa, which was only one 
day’s journey distant. 

On the following day Peter went up on the house-top to pray, as 
was his custom. All the house-tops in that country are flat, and are 
used for promenading in the warm summer evenings, as Peter’s wonder- 
well also for devotions, on account of the privacy which ful vision - 
they afford. On this occasion, while Peter was praying, he suddenly felt 
a great hunger, and at the same time he beheld a wondrous vision : the 
sky above appeared to open and a great sheet held at the four corners 
was let down before him filled with numerous wild beasts, birds and 
insects. And as he was looking a voice came out of the clouds, saying, 
“ Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” Now, held within the sheet were many 
animals which the edict of Moses had pronounced unclean, and seeing 
this, Peter remonstrated, saying, “ Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any 
thing that is common or unclean.” But the voice spoke thrice, “ What God 
hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” The meaning of this vision 
was not revealed at once to Peter, though he soon afterward knew that 



746 Arise , Therefore , Get Thee Down , <2%^ with Them . 

it was given as a sign that the gospel was not to be withheld from other 
nations, notwithstanding that the Jews looked upon all other people with 
a feeling of loathing. 

While Peter was striving to interpret the significance of the vision 
the servants of Cornelius appeared before the gate and inquired for him. 
At the same moment 
God spoke to him, say- 


NOW, . . . BRETHREN, . . . OFTENTIMES I PURPOSED TO COME UNTO YOU, . . . THAT I MIGHT HAVE 

SOME FRUIT AMONG YOU.— Rom. i. 13. 

ing, “ Three men are looking for thee ; arise and follow them, for I have 
sent them.” And Peter went down to the men, and said to them, “ Behold, 
I am he whom ye seek; for what reason have you come?” They 
answered, “Cornelius, the centurion, who is a just man and one that 
fears God, and is well thought of by all the Jews, was told by a holy 
angel to send for thee to come to his house, that he might hear the 


/ Perceive That God is No Respecter of Persons. 


747 



words which thou wouldst speak.” Then Peter called the men into 
Simons house, and kept them that night; on the morrow he went with 
them, accompanied by some of the disciples who lived at Joppa. 

The next day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, 
and had invited his re- 
* lations and near friends 
to be with him when 
Peter should come. 

As soon as Pe- 
ter entered the 
house, Corne- 
lius fell down 
and worshiped 
him. But Pe- 
ter spoke to 
him, saying, 

“ Stand up ; for 
I am only a 
man like thy- 
self.” Then 
Peter went in 
with him and 
found there 
many persons 
gathered together, 
who, like Cornelius 
himself, were not Tews, AND HE shook off the beast into the fire, and feet 

J ’ NO HARM.— Acts 28. 5. 

but Gentiles. And 

Peter said to them, “ You know that the Jews say it is wrong for them 
to make friends with the men of other nations, because the Jews think 
themselves better, and call others common and unclean. But God has 
taught me, in a vision, not to call the men of other nations common or 
unclean. Therefore I came to you as soon as you sent for me, and now 
I ask for what reason you wanted me to come ? ” 


748 Whosoever Believeth in Him Shall Receive Remission of Sins. 



Cornelius answered, “ Four days ago I was fasting and praying in 
my liouse, and, behold, an angel stood before me in bright clothing, and 
said, Cornelius, God has heard thy prayers, and seen thy kind acts to 
to the poor. Send therefore to Joppa for a man named Peter. He is 
staying in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, 
he .will tell how thou and all thy family can be saved. Immediately then 

I sent for thee, and thou hast 
been kind to come. Now we 
are all here together to 
hear what God hath com- 
manded thee to say.” 
Peter accepted the 
invitation of Cor- 
nelius and preach- 
ed to him and his 
friends of their 
duties to God, and 
recited the story of 
Jesus’ good works 
and His cruel 
death with such ef- 
fect that the entire 
house was convert- 
ed and baptized, 
and he remained with them several 
days glorifying God. 

The wonders performed, and 
particularly the rapid conversion of the people to Christianity by Peter, 
stirred up the anger of the Hellenists anew after it had slumbered for 
Peter cast into about five years. Herod, the tetrarch, but who was called 
prison, an angel king, ruling as the representative of Rome, became specially 
delivers him. vindictive and began a vigorous persecution of the Chris- 
tians. James, one of the apostles, was first seized and publicly beheaded, 
amid the plaudits of the brutal populace. Peter was shortly afterward 


PAUL, . . . RECEIVED AEE THAT CAME UNTO HIM, 
PREACHING THE KINGDOM OE GOD. — Acts 28. 30, 31. 


Behold , the Angel of the Lord Came Upon Him . 749 



arrested, but the Feast of the Passover being at hand his execution was 
deferred until the celebration should be concluded. 

He was thrown into prison and, as a measure of particular precau- 
tion against his escape, he was chained to his guards by means of iron 
bands around his wrists and ankles, connected with chains fastened to 
similar bands about the limbs of his keepers. But these could not avail 
against the will of God. On the night 
preceding the day fixed for his death, Peter 
was awakened by the gentle touch 
of an angel, as he lay sleeping be- 
tween the guards, and he heard 
a voice, “ Rise up quickly.” He 
opened his eyes to see a 
liant light filling the 
naturally dark cell, and 
beheld before him a ra- 
diant angel, who now 
said, “ Dress thyself, 
and put on thy sandals ^ 
and follow me.’' Peter 
saw also that the men 
to guard him were in a 
found sleep — but the chains! 

This perplexity was only for 
as he sought to rise, the bands 
limbs broke asunder, the great 
barred the way to liberty 
noiselessly of its own accord, and following the angel Peter walked out and 


bril- 


sent 


pro- 


I COMMEND UNTO YOU PHEBE OUR 
SISTER, WHICH IS A SERVANT OF 
THE CHURCH. — Rom. 16. I. 


a moment, for 
which held his 
iron gate which 
swung back 


down through the quiet streets until they came to the vicinity of a friend’s 
house, named Mary. Here the divine liberator left him, and Peter went 
to find shelter where he knew were his friends. Mary was the mother 
of Mark, and to her house came many Christians every day to worship 
together. But it was with great secrecy, for the emissaries of Herod were 
everywhere seeking to glut their vengeful hatred with Christian blood. 


750 


The Lord Had Brought Him Out of the Prison . 


Peter knocked at the door of Mary, when Rhoda, a young woman 
who chanced to be at the house at the time, went to answer the summons. 
Peter appears She did not quickly open the door, but suspecting that it 
at the house of might be one of Herod’s spies, she crept cautiously and gave 
Rhoda. a challenge, “ Who is it ? ” Peter responded in such a manner 
that Rhoda knew immediately that it was he, and so overjoyed was she 
to know that he was near again, that she forgot to open the door, but 
in her gladness now ran back to Mary and the company to tell them that 
Peter was without. They thought she must be mad, and so told her, for 
was not Peter in prison, and was he not to furnish the bloody spectacle 
of a victim to Jewish hatred before the populace on the morrow ? But 
Peter kept knocking until they came and admitted him, and heard from 
his own lips the story of his miraculous deliverance. 

When morning dawned the guards awakened to find to their horror 
that Peter had disappeared, but how they could not divine. The iron bands 
were intact, and the great gate was bolted through which no one could 
have passed. Herod soon heard of the disciple’s escape and sent imme- 
diately for the keepers. These he questioned concerning the manner of 
Peter’s escape, but obtaining no satisfactory replies he ordered that they 
be forthwith put to death. But Herod himself did not long survive, for 
the Lord afflicted him with a loathsome disease from which he soon died 
after great suffering. 

When most of the disciples fled from Jerusalem, after the stoning 
of Stephen, about A. D. 35, some of them went to Antioch, a city of 
Paul is called Syria, where they preached to the Gentiles and made a great 
to Antioch. number of conversions. Learning of their success there 
Barnabas also went to Antioch after Paul’s departure for Tarsus, as it 
was not safe for either to remain longer in Jerusalem. After remaining 
in Antioch some months, Barnabas sought Paul and brought him there 
also, as it was a most fruitful field for Christianizing labor. Here they 
preached daily- for a year, in which time several thousand persons united 
with the Church, and here also was the name Christian , as a follower 
of Christ, first given. At the end of a year, a prophet named Agabus 
declared that a famine would prevail throughout the land in the succeeding 


They Found a Certain Sorcerer , a False Prophet , a Jew . 


75 1 



season, to prepare against which Paul and Barnabas raised such funds 
as they were able to collect from their friends, and took the money to 
Jerusalem for distribution among the needy Christians in that city, but 
they were absent only a short time, having made their return to Antioch 
as soon as possible on account of the bitter feeling 
which still existed against them in Jerusalem. 

After preaching another year in Antioch, 

Paul went to Salamis, on 
the island of Cyprus, taking 
with him Barnabas, a na- 


DARE ANY OF YOU ... GO TO UAW BEFORE THE UNJUST, AND 
NOT BEFORE THE SAINTS ?— i Cor. 6. i. 

tion. But there was a Jew named Elyinas who had great influence with 
the deputy, and as he was a rabid hater of the Christians, he for a time 
undid all the good work of Paul. This so incensed the apostle that he 
sought Elymas and accosted him, saying “O thou, who art full of mis- 
chief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou 


tive of the island^ 
and another dis- 
ciple named Mark, 
but they were ill 
received by the 
Cyprians at Sa- 
lamis, so, after a 
short stay and lit- 
tle preaching, they 
removed to Pa- 
phos, a town on the 
same island. Di- 
rectly after their 
arrival at Paphos, 
the deputy of the 
city, Sergius Paul- 
us, sent for them 
to instruct him in 
the way of salva- 


752 Immediately There Fell on Him a Mist and a Darkness. 



not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord ? And now, behold, the 
hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun 
for a season.” Immediately the light went out from his eyes and h$ 


had to seek some one to lead him. 
was convinced, 
and he became 
an earnest Chris- 
tian, whose in- 
fluence brought 
many others to 
accept the gos- 
pel. Paul and 
Barnabas left 
Paphos after a 


On account of this miracle Paulus 


they which run in a race run a el, but one receiveth 
THE PRIZE. — I Cor. 9. 24. 


season and went to 
a town called Perga, 
on the river Cen- 
trus, in Asia Minor. 
Here they were re- 
ceived with such hos- 
tility that Mark, of 
faint heart, left his 
companions and returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas made their 
stay also short in Perga, and went to Antioch in Pisidia, or Asia Minor, 
Paul and Barna- which, like the Antioch of Syria, was founded by Nicator, 
bas arc driven the son of Antiochus. Here Paul preached in the Jewish 
from Antioch, synagogues and first announced to the Jews the gospel of 
salvation to the Gentiles. He recited, in eloquent language, the history 
of the prophets, and reminded his hearers, as Stephen had done, of the 
wickedness and perverseness of the Jewish people. He then explained to 


753 



There Sat a Man at Lystra , Impotent * in His Feet. 

them the gospel of Jesus and besought them to embrace it, though at the 
same time he intimated his prophetic knowledge that they would reject it. 

Paul and Barnabas had to flee from Antioch, but God directed their 
footsteps aright and they went to Iconium, which is on the western limit 
of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor. Here they renewed their ministry, and by 
preaching in the synagogues they gained 
many converts of both Jews and Gentiles. 

But their enemies were on the alert, and soon 
drove them from 
Iconium, from 
whence they came 
to a city, not far 
distant, called 
Lystra. While 
Paul was preach- 
ing here a man 
lame from birth 
was brought and 
set down beside 
the apostle. Paul, 
perceiving that 
the afflicted one 
had faith, in the 
presence of the 
large concourse of 

people before him, cried out in a loud 
voice : “ Stand upright on thy feet I” 

Immediately the lame man went leap- 
ing for joy, and giving praise for his 

restoration. When the people saw this wondrous miracle, they declared 
that the apostles were gods, sent down from heaven in the likeness 
of men, and they called Paul Mercury , and Barnabas they believed to 
be Jupiter , which were the names of their two gods. Their belief was 
so great that the priests brought oxen and sacred vessels, and an altar 


754 


Having Stoned Paul , Drew Him Out of the City. 

from the idols’ temple, and prepared to sacrifice to them. But when Paul 
and Barnabas saw what was about to be done they quickly forbade such 
a sacrilege, assuring the people that they were only men like themselves, 
but sent to persuade them from worshiping idols, and to turn their worship 
to the true God. So fickle were these people, that those who had been 
most earnest in their offerings now became inflamed against them, declar- 
ing they were impostors and wicked men worthy of a blasphemer’s death. 
The feeling against Paul and Barnabas continued to increase until the 
Jews made an attack upon them. Barnabas escaped injury, but Paul was 
Paul stoned by stricken down and stoned until his persecutors believed him 
a mob. dead. They accordingly dragged his body outside of the 

city and left it for carrion birds to feast on. Some of Paul’s friends, 
however, went to bring the body back and give it burial, but as they 
were standing about preparing a litter, Paul suddenly rose up and returned 
with them to the city, restored by God, but he did not tarry long, for 
the cry was against him. Therefore leaving Lystra, Paul again found 
Barnabas, and the two continued traveling together through all the cities 
of western Asia Minor, and though bitterly persecuted everywhere, their 
zeal was in no wise diminished. 



THEN PAUE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF MARS’ HIED. — Acts 17. 22. 


CHAPTER XI. 


We believe that throiigh the grace of the Lord we shall be saved. 



HE second missionary journey of St. Paul began 
within a very short time after the decision of the 
elders respecting the Mosaic law. He first 
returned to Antioch, presumably for certain 
instructions, and from thence he journeyed 
through Cilicia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, Galatia, 
Mysia and the Troad. From this latter place 
he went to Macedonia, Athens and Corinth. 
Barnabas, however, did not accompany him, for 
on account of a dispute between the two over 
the desire of Barnabas to take Mark with him, they separated, Barnabas 
setting sail for Cyprus with Mark, while Paul pursued his way in the 
company of Silas. Notwithstanding the evil that was done him by the people 
of Lystra, Paul stopped there again on his second journey, but it is not 
related that he offered to preach. We are merely told that he found a 
young man in the city named Timothy, who was known as a devout and 
God-fearing person, and at his request Paul took him as a companion. 

Paul’s next stopping-place was at Troas, near the sea coast, where at 
night he beheld a vision of an angel standing before him, who said, “ Come 
over to Macedonia and help us.” This call, which he knew was from 
God, he at once responded to, and taking a ship he sailed An angel calls 
for Philippi, taking Silas with him, but of Timothy no men- to Paul * 
tion is made. Upon arriving at Philippi the two apostles went on the 
Sabbath to a place beside the river, just on the outskirts of the town, 
where the Jews were accustomed to meet for prayer, from which we are 
led to infer that there was no synagogue in the place. As they sat here 
a woman named Lydia, who sold purple cloths, came to attend them, 
and with her Paul conversed concerning the ministry of Christ and of the 

( 755 ) 



756 


A Damsel Possessed with a Spirit of Divination. 



gospel. She listened with rapt attention and was soon converted, being 
baptized, with all her family. After this Paul and Silas, at her request, 
made her house their home while in Philippi. 

The apostles preached daily to the people, but were greatly annoyed 

by a young woman who had 
the reputation of forecasting 
events, by which she 
earned much money for 


those to 
whom she 
was in ser- 
vice. It is 
to be i n- 
ferred that 
the woman 
was an 
idiot, or af- 
flicted with 
a mild lunacy, 
which in early 
times was often 
regarded as a 
mark or evi- 
dence of collu- 
sion with fa- 
spirits. 

She followed Paul and Silas about, 
crying out, u These men are the servants of 
God, who show us how we may be saved.” To avoid this annoyance, 
perhaps as much as for the good deed itself, Paul at length turned and 
said to the evil spirit that possessed her, “ I command thee, in the name 
of Jesus Christ, to come out of her.” At these words the young woman 
was relieved and came into possession of her right mind, so that she was 
no longer profitable to her masters. 




J HAVE FOUGHT WITH BEASTS 

at ephesus.— i cor. i 5 . 32. miliar 


The Doors W ere Opened , and Every One'' s Bands Were Loosed . 757 



Being deprived of an income which the ravings of a poor imbecile 
brought them, the masters of the girl became so incensed at Paul and 
Silas that they seized them and made a charge to the rulers p au i and Silas 
that they were teaching the people a false doctrine. On scourged, 
this accusation the ruler commanded that the apostles be scourged and 
then thrown into prison, that it might be decided afterward what further 
punishment would be inflicted. The stripes which 
they received were very severe and left them quite 
exhausted, but notwithstanding 
their pitiable condition they 
were not only put into a dark 
and loathsome prison, but their 
feet and ankles were bound in 
the stocks so that they were 
unable to move. Faith and 
hope, however, sustained them 
in this trying hour. In the 
night they fell to praying and 
to singing praises to God in the 
hearing of the other prisoners. 

In the middle watch, while thus 
engaged, suddenly there was a 
great earthquake which shook 
the prison so violently that the 
the stocks burst from Paul and 
keeper, being roused from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, 
thought his prisoners must have gained their freedom, and knowing well 
the penalty which would be visited upon him for permitting his charge 
to escape, he seized a sword and was on the point of killing himself, 
when Paul cried out to him, “ Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.” 

The jailor now knew that some wonderful manifestation had been 
made, and procuring a light he came trembling into the cell where Paul 
and Silas were. Kneeling down before them he cried in passionate terms, 
u Sirs, what shall I do to be saved ?. ” and Paul answered, “ Believe on 


PAUI, A PRISONER OF 
JESUS CHRIST. I 

doors flew open and 
Silas’ limbs. The 


75 8 They Have Beaten Us Openly , Uncondemned. 

the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” The jailor listened to 
Paul’s discourse about Jesus and became converted while standing in the 
dungeon, and carried the news of salvation to his family, who also were 
baptized. After this he brought food, and washed the wounds of the apos- 
tles and otherwise manifested his sympathy and joy. In the morning the 
rulers sent officers to the prison with an order for the liberation of Paul 
and Silas, but they refused to accept their freedom. Paul’s father was a 
freeman, although a Jew, though it is not known whether he had been 
so born or had purchased his liberty, as was often done. He was, there- 
fore, tiot amenable to the Jewish laws, but was subject only to the Romans. 
Paul was, of course, a freeman, and it was against the law to scourge a 
Roman. Thus those who had so severely and unjustly punished Paul 
were in danger of having to suffer even death for their acts. Learning 
these facts, those who had procured his punishment came and begged him 
to go out of the city, and not to prefer charges against them, which Paul 
at length consented to do. 

Paul and Silas went from Philippi to another city in Macedonia called 
Thessalonica, where they preached for three days in the synagogues. 

The people Several Jews and Gentiles were converted, but a great 
again threaten number of the people were angered at the boldness with 
which they accused those who rejected the gospel. This 
angry feeling increased until many of the Jews assembled and went in 
a body to the house where the apostles were staying, intending to mob 
them. The man whose hospitality Paul and Silas were receiving was 
named Jason, and so good a friend was he to the apostles that he hid 
them and gave himself up to the mob to do with him as they might 
choose. 

He was carried before the rulers charged with harboring men who 
had disobeyed the decrees of Caesar, and who had declared that Jesus, 
and not Caesar, was king. In the meantime Paul and Silas escaped out 
of the city by night and went to Berea. Jason was made to promise that he 
would no longer permit the apostles to remain in his house, after which he 
was let go, but he knew that the time thus gained would be sufficient to 
permit of the escape of those he had learned to love. 


When He Saw the City Wholly Given to Idolatry. 


75 9 



Paul remained in Berea only a short while, when another sedition 
was stirred up against him, and being advised by his friends to leave, he 
went thence to Athens, in Greece. Here he found a people p a ui teaches 
apparently advanced in civilization, but who, amid all their in Athens * 
culture and splendor, were groveling and praying to idols. On every 
side were images set up, some of wood and others made of precious 
metals ; and there were also 
many splendid temples and 
altars for the worship of a 
hundred different idols. Be- 
fore one of these altars 
Paul observed an inscrip- 
tion which read, “To the 
Unknown God.” 

The following traditions 
have gathered round Paul’s 
reference to this altar: 

It is said that Diony- 
sius, the Areopagite, was at 
Alexandria at the time of 
Christ’s crucifixion- In that 
city he witnessed the su- 
pernatural darkness which 
covered the earth at the 
expiring of the Son of God, 
and knowing it was not 
caused by an eclipse, Dio- 
nysius concluded that it was 
the act of some god whose 
name he was not acquainted 

STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, QUIT YOU DIKE MEN.— i Cor. 16. 13. 

with ; and on his return to 

Athens he erected the altar in question to the God who had suddenly 
wrapped the world in darkness. According to another tradition, when the 
Athenians had lost a certain battle there appeared a spectre in the city, 


760 Whom Ye . . . Ignorantly Worship Him Declare I Unto Yon. 

who informed them that he had inflicted the calamities upon them because, 
though they worshiped other gods, and celebrated games in their honor, 
there was no worship paid to him. The apparition vanished without 
leaving its name. The Athenians, desirous of doing honor to all gods, 
erected this altar, and on it placed the celebrated inscription. 

Still another story affirms that the Athenians, on one occasion, being 
seized with a burning distemper which would not allow them to endure 
The unknown anything on their bodies, addressed themselves in vain to all 
God of the the gods whom they had been accustomed to revere ; but as 
Athenians. they received no relief from their known deities they erected 
an altar “ To the Unknown God,” apprehending that some strange 
divinity had smitten them. When they recovered, of course they attrib- 
uted their cure to the deity whom they had at last done their best to 
propitiate. Whatever may have been the occasion for the raising of an 
altar to the Unknown God, Paul declaimed against the sacrilege which 
it embodied, and preached Christ and through Him the way to salvation. 
The wise men of Athens for a time thought him to be some harmless 
enthusiast, but at length discovered with what strength of reasoning and 
great power of speech he explained his doctrine, so they invited him to 
preach to them on Mars’ Hill, where the chief court of Athens met. In 
response to this invitation, Paul met the wise philosophers of Greece, 
and others who had a curiosity to hear him, and spoke to them of their 
duties to the true God. Said he, u Him whom you worship as the 
Unknown God do I declare unto you, for that God is not made of stone, 
of brass, of gold, or of other substance, but it is He of the spirit, who 
made heaven and earth, and all that is therein, and to whom you owe 
everything, not only what you have and enjoy as the accumulation of 
your industry, but your lives as well.” And Paul also spoke to them 
of Jesus, of His teachings, sufferings, death and resurrection. But when 
he spoke of Christ rising from the dead many mocked him, though not 
a few accepted his teachings and became converted, among whom was 
Dionysius, a member of the chief court. 

Paul next journeyed to the city of Corinth, where he was received 
by a Jew named Aquila, and his wife Priscilla, who were tent-makers. 


Because He was of the Same Craft He Abode with Them. 


761 



In his youth Paul had followed this trade, for though his father was 
rich, and he had no need to work, it was customary for all Jews to 
require their children to learn some trade. For some time, Paul {s appre _ 
therefore, Paul worked with Aquila and his wife, and while hended again 
they made tents they had opportunity to converse on holy at Corinth, 
things. Priscilla was soon converted under Paul’s preaching, and became 
an earnest disciple for disseminating the gospel 
among her acquaintances. Aquila 
was also con- 
verted, and the 


PAUE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF MARS’ HIDE. — Acts 17. 22. 


two thereafter received from Paul the name of u his helpers in Christ 
Jesus.” 

The suffering which Paul had passed through in his mission as a 
disciple, which he no doubt often related, was perhaps what first won the 
sympathy of Aquila and Priscilla, for they had only a short time before 
been themselves driven from Rome by the cruel edict of Claudius, which 
expelled all Jews. 


762 God Wrought Special Miracles by the Hands of Patti. 

Paul remained in Corinth for eighteen months, working at his trade 
and preaching each Sabbath, at the end of which time the Jews again 
preferred charges against him, on which he was arrested and brought 
before a magistrate named Gallio, upon a complaint that he was preaching 
a false doctrine. Instead, however, of ordering him to be punished, the 
magistrate dismissed him, with some reproof to his accusers for appre- 
hending a man merely on account of his religious opinions. But this 
did not end the trouble, for the Gentiles, offended at Paul’s enemies, 
seized the chief ruler of the synagogue and administered to him a severe 
beating with thongs even before Gallio, which leads us to believe that 
his sympathies were with Paul if not with his teachings. 

Leaving Corinth at length, Paul went to Ephesus, accompanied by 
Aquila and Priscilla, and there with their aid he founded another church. 

An evil spirit He spent three years in this place, during which time he 
punishes performed many miracles and converted hundreds of people, 
impostor jews. j s re lated that so great were his virtues that handker- 
chiefs, aprons, and such things as he might handle, when laid upon the 
sick or those possessed of evil spirits, made them immediately well. 
Many wicked pretenders took advantage of the reputation which Paul had 
among the Ephesians for working miracles, and claimed the power also 
of casting out devils in Jesus’ name. On one occasion seven brothers, 
who were Jews, attempted to relieve a sufferer by exorcising the evil 
spirit in the name of Jesus, but the spirit answered them, saying, “I 
know Jesus, and Paul I know also; but who are you?” Thus speaking, 
the man of an evil spirit leaped upon them and beat and wounded them 
until they were glad to flee into a house to escape further punishment. 
This incident was followed by many pretenders to magic renouncing 
their profession, and bringing the books which they owned that taught 
such evil practices to a public place, where they were burned. The 
value of the books of magic that were thus destroyed was fifty thousand 
pieces of silver. 

But though there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 
Ephesus, it did not so continue, for as the conversions multiplied anger 
and jealousy were excited by those who opposed the gospel, which led 


Great is Diana of the Ephesians ! 


7 6 3 



finally to Paul being driven from the city. The circumstance, however, 
was a most singular one, as we shall see : Among the numerous gods 
and goddesses worshiped by the Ephesians was one called The worship 
Diana, to whom a magnificent temple was built of cedar, of Diana * 
cypress, marble, and gold. So great and splendid was this building that 
the Ephesians spent one hundred and twenty years in its construction, 
and for many centuries it 
was regarded as being the 
most wonderful, as well as 
most beautiful thing 
in the world. The 
image of Diana, 
which the temple 
sheltered, was made 
of gold, and more 
splendid even than 
the temple itself. So 
devoted were the peo- 
ple to this goddess 
that a large number 
of workers in brass 
and silver spent their 
entire time in mak- 
ing miniatures of the 
temple, which were 
hawked about in the 
streets by peddlers. 

Paul inveighed 
against this practice, 
and rebuked the peo- 
ple for their idolatry 
in such earnest words 

that a great jealousy I WOULD TO GOD, . . . ALL THAT HEAR ME . . . WERE BOTH ALMOST, 

. AND ALTOGETHER SUCH AS I AM, EXCEPr THESE BONDS. ™ 

was stirred up against Acts 23 . 29. 


764 Neither Robbers of Churches nor Blasphemers of Your Goddess . 


him. Demetrius, one of those who manufactured images for sale, was the 
first to set up a cry for Paul’s punishment. He was able to make his 
a mob goes influence effective by appealing to his workmen, reminding 
crying through them that if Paul continued to convert the people their 
Ephesus. occupation would be gone ; and he also reminded the 
citizens generally that if the worship of Diana were abandoned their 
beautiful temple, which now excited the admiration of the world, would 
fall into decay, and their pride would be destroyed. 

So inflamed with passion did the Ephesians become under this harangue 
that with fairly one voice they shouted, “ Great is Diana of the Ephesians! ” 
and began at once to search for the disciples. Gaius and Aristarchus, who 
had been Paul’s companions, were first to fall into the hands of the populace, 
but no further harm was done than to carry them to the theatre where 
Paul was announced to address the people. Many of Paul’s friends urged 
him not to go to the theatre, on account of the threatening cries of the 
citizens, who had now become a mob. This advice he finally consented 
to obey, by which wise action there is no doubt that a sickening spectacle 
of blood and ruin was prevented. 

One of the chief officers of the city appeared in the. theatre and called 
upon Demetrius to prefer his charges against the Christians, at the same 
time assuaging the excitement of the crowd by saying : “Ye men of 
Ephesus, what man is there among you who does not know that the people 
of our city are all worshipers of the great goddess Diana and of her image 
that fell down from heaven ? Now, as no one denies this, you should be 
careful to do nothing in anger. You have brought here the men, called 
Christians, who have not robbed your temple, or spoken evil of your 
goddess. 

Therefore, if Demetrius, and the workmen who are with him, have 
any complaint to make against them, let him go before the court and 
prove what evil they have done. For we are in danger of being blamed 
by our rulers for this day’s disturbance, because we can give no reason 
why it should have been made.” By this speech the officer calmed the 
passion of the mob, and persuaded them to go to their homes and trouble 
the Christians no more. 


Fell Down from the Third Loft , and was Taken Up Dead. 765 



After tlie people had dispersed Paul called to him the disciples, and 
bidding them farewell, left them, and went again into the land of Macedonia. 
When he had preached in the different cities of that country, A young 
he came again to Troas, in Asia. And on the first day of man's life is 
the week, when the disciples came together to eat of the restored, 
bread and drink of the wine, as Jesus had commanded, Paul preached to 
them, for he was going to leave Troas the next day. There were many 
lights in the upper chamber where they 
met together, and Paul continued speak- 
ing till the middle of the night. 

And there sat in a window, 
listening to him, a young man 
named Eutychus, 
who, as Paul was long 
preaching, slept, and 
while asleep fell from 
the third 
story and 
was taken up 
dead. But 
Paul went 
down to him 
and putting 
around him, 
who stood 
troubled ; he 
And the 
when they 
took him up 


his arms 
said to those 
by, “Do not be 
has come to life again.” 
young man’s friends 
saw that he was alive, 
and were comforted. 
When Paul had returned to the upper chamber and eaten with the disciples, 
and talked with them a long while, even till it was morning, he left them 
to go from Troas. 

And he and the brethren who were with him sailed to the city of 
Miletus, which was not far from Ephesus. And because he did not wish 


RENDER THEREFORE TO A EL THEIR DUES : 
TRIBUTE TO WHOM TRIBUTE IS DUE. — 
Rom. 13. 7. 


766 Serving the Lord With All Humility of Mind. 

to go to Ephesus at that time, he sent for the elders of the church there, 
to come and meet him. When they had come, he spoke to them, saying, 
Paul exhorts the “ You know, from the first day that I came among you, and 
church eiders. f or the three years that I stayed with you, how I lived at 
all times ; serving the Lord humbly, yet having many sorrows and trials 
because of the Jews, who were always seeking to do me some harm. And 
you know that when I preached to you, I did not keep back anything 
that it was best for you to hear, even though it were something that 
might offend you ; but I taught you in the synagogues and in your own 
houses, telling both the Jews and the Gentiles that they should repent of 
their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

“ And now I am going up to Jerusalem, not knowing what shall 
happen to me there, except that in every city, the Holy Spirit tells me, 
bonds and afflictions are waiting for me. Yet none of these things make 
me afraid, neither do I care even though I be put to death, so that I may 
die with joy, and finish the work which the Lord Jesus has given me, 
as His minister, to do. And now I know that all of you who have heard 
me preach the gospel so often, shall see my face no more. Therefore, 
before I go, I want you to confess that if any of you be lost at the 
judgment day, the fault will not be mine; for I have not neglected to 
tell you how you may be saved, as God sent me to tell you.” 

After Paul had said these things, he kneeled down and prayed with 
them. And they all wept greatly, and put their arms around his neck and 
kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they 
should see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship in 
which he sailed away from Miletus. And he came to the city of Tyre, for 
there the ship was to unload her burden. Finding some disciples there 
a parting of the he stayed with them seven days. As he was about to leave 
disciples. them, they, with their wives and children, came with him to 
the shore ; and they all kneeled down together and prayed. And when 
they had bidden each other farewell, Paul and the brethren who journeyed 
with him went into the ship, and the disciples returned to their homes. 
And Paul came to the city of Caesarea, and went into the house of Philip, 
one of the seven deacons on whom the apostles had laid their hands ; it 


Neither Count I My Life Dear Unto Myself. 767 



was that Philip who preached the gospel to the eunuch, as he rode in his 
chariot going back from Jerusalem to Ethiopia. 

While Paul was in Philip’s house, a prophet named Agabus came 
there, who took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, at 
the same time telling him it had been given him to know that he, 
Paul, would be likewise bound by the Jews at Jerusalem. 

When the disciples heard this prophecy they fell on 
Paul’s neck with tears and besought him to 
forego his intention, but 
he steadfastly refused, say- 
ing, “ I am ready, as the 
Lord may will, not only to 
be bound but also to die 
at the hands of the en - 
emies of Jesus.” 

When Paul 
parted from his 
friends at Caesa- 
rea he went 
straightway to 
Jerusalem, 
where he was 
j oy fully received 
by his brethren. 

On the day succeed- 
ing his arrival he met 
the elders of the church 
at a disciple’s house and gave them an account of his labors, and 
of how Gentile nations had received the gospel. On the second day 
Paul went into the Temple to preach, but scarcely had he 

. .j . 1 Paul arrested in 

opened his mouth when some Jews from Asia laid violent thc Temp|c 
hands upon him, accusing him of blasplien^ and annuling the 
laws of Moses, and of bringing Gentiles into the Temple. A great uproar 
was immediately raised and the whole city thrown into confusion. A crowd 


FOR THIS CAUSE EEFT I THEE IN 
CRETE.— Titus i. 5. 


768 


All the City was Moved , and the People Ran Together. 


gathered about Paul when he was brought into the streets, many of whom 
began pelting him with stones and sticks, but his life was saved by a squad 
of soldiers who rushed in and took him away from the blood-thirsty vil- 
lains who sought his life. Paul was at once bound with chains and taken 
toward the castle, but so vindictive were the Jews that they seemed 
resolved to kill him, and would have done so had not the soldiers sur- 
rounded him and thus exposed their own bodies to the murderous mis- 
siles that were hurled at him. When once safe within the castle Paul 
asked permission of the captain to speak, to which the officer replied, 
“ Art thou not that Egyptian who did lead men out into the wilderness ? ” 
Shortly before the arrest of Paul a man from Egypt had made his appear- 
ance in Jerusalem, declaring that he was a prophet anointed by God to 
foretell what should befall the people. Many persons were deceived by 
him, and were led away from their homes after surrendering to him all 
their property. It was this impostor which the officer supposed Paul to 
be. When, therefore, Paul convinced him that he was a free-born Jew 
of Tarsus, the officer gave him permission to speak to the crowd below 
as he had requested. When the people at length consented to hear him 
and had become quiet, Paul spoke in Hebrew somewhat after this 
manner : 

“I am, of a truth, a Jew born in Tarsus, but brought up in Jerusa- 
lem under the instruction of Gamaliel, who taught me in all the laws of 
Moses. In my early years I was as diligent in compelling 
Paul permitted a observance of those laws as you ; nay, I even perse- 

to address the * . . . r 

people. cuted and desired the death of all Christians, and many, 
both men and women, did I throw into prison. Nor was my 
labor of persecution confined to Jerusalem, but I asked for letters of 
authority to go to Damascus, and to seize and imprison all the Christians 
that I might find there. But as I was on my way there a wonderful 
thing was done for me, by which I was made to know the sinfulness of 
my ways. While I was journeying near the walls of Damascus, suddenly 
a blazing light fell upon me so that I was stricken to the ground, and 
as I lay there helpless and confused a voice spoke, saying, ‘Saul, Saul, 
why persecutest thou Me ? ’ And when I asked who it was that spoke, 


Men, Brethren and Fathers , Blear My Defence. 769 


the reply came, ‘ I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.’ And when I asked 
what I should do it was told me to go into Damascus, where it would be 
given me to know.” 



Paul also explained to his hearers all that had happened him there- 
after, and how Jesus had told him to go unto all nations of the Gentiles aud 
preach the gospel to them that would 
receive it. 

The Jews listened patiently to 
Paul’s discourse until he told that 
he had carried his ministry to the 
Gentiles, at which they became bois- 
terous again and shouted, “ Kill him, 
kill him ; such a man 
is unworthy to live.” 

The soldiers, however, 
prevented them from 
doing him violence, but 
a number of those most 
vengeful declared that 
they would neither eat 
nor drink until they 
had killed him. On 
account of these 
threats the chief 
captain of the sol- 
diers determined not to 
bring Paul before the 
council on the following 
day, but to take him directly to 
the Roman governor at Caesa- 
rea, which was sixty miles from 
Jerusalem. The guard detailed to 
convey the prisoner to Caesarea 

.AND THROUGH A WINDOW IN A BASKET WAS I LET 

carried with them a letter written DOWN BY THE WALL. — 2 Cor. 11.32. 


49 



770 


/ Have Lived in All Good Conscience Before God . 


by the chief captain and addressed to the governor, whose name was 
Felix, informing him of the circumstance of Paul’s arrest and uttering the 
opinion that the prisoner had done nothing worthy of punishment. 

When Paul was brought before Felix he was questioned as to the place 
of his birth and the manner by which he became a free man, after which he 
was thrown into prison to await the arrival of his accusers, who had sent a 
letter saying they would appear in a few days. 

At the expiration of five days Ananias, the high-priest, and other 
members of the council came to Caesarea, accompanied by a lawyer 
The trial of named Tertullus, who was engaged to prosecute Paul. The 
PauL case was brought before the governor without delay and Ter- 
tullus opened the prosecution with a speech of condemnation, in which he 
charged Paul with having stirred up sedition, but was worthy of punish- 
ment chiefly because he had preached to both Jew and Gentile a new reli- 
gion and had taught that Jesus, who was crucified, was the Son of God. 
When he had finished talking a number of Jews were introduced as wit- 
nesses to prove the accusations made, after which Paul was permitted to 
speak. He manifested no fear or excitement, but in an unimpassioned and 
dignified manner gave an account of his ministry, of the good he had sought 
to do, of how he had wronged no man, and how while believing in the 
Jewish laws and religion, yet had he with an approving conscience taught 
that Jesus was the Christ to the Gentile as well as to the Jew. 

When Paul had left off speaking he was remanded to prison and 
kept in durance for two years, though he was allowed considerable liberty, 
Paul is favored an d was even brought several times to Felix’s house as a 
by Felix and guest. Felix was succeeded as governor by Festus, to whom 
the Jews appealed anew that Paul might be returned to 
Jerusalem for trial. But Festus refused the request and replied that his 
prisoner should be condemned, if at all, at Caesarea, so that the Jews 
were compelled to appear there again to renew their accusations. 

When his case was again brought to trial Paul was asked whether 
he would consent to go to Jerusalem or would appeal to Caesar, which 
was an intimation to him that if found guilty the punishment awarded 
him might be death. It was a law at the time that any Roman charged 


A/ most Thou Persuadeth Me to Be a Christian. 771 



with a capital crime had the right of an appeal to Caesar, and as Paul 
was a free man he had this privilege, which, understanding the feeling 
against him at Jerusalem, he availed himself of. Before sending him 
away to Rome, however, it happened that Agrippa — another governor, 
procurator, or king, whose exact office is not known — came to visit Festus, 
and having heard of Paul and his wisdom requested that he be brought 
before him. Excuse was accordingly 
made for the pretence of a new 
trial, and Paul was again 
brought before the tribunal, 
loaded with chains. 

Paul’s speech before the 
two rulers, Festus and Agrip- 
pa, was the most memorable 
he ever uttered, and thrilled 
the very souls of the gov- 
ern ors, almost persuading 
them to embrace Christianity. 

They would have gladly re- 
leased him now, but for the 
fact that he had appealed to 
Caesar, which took the case 
out of Festus’ hands, though he had 
found occasion to call him before the 
tribunal after this appeal had been made. PAUI< WRITING TO THE galatians. 

It was only a short while after being called before Agrippa when 
Paul was given in charge of a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan 
cohort, who had also several other prisoners to convey to Pau , wjth other 
Rome. There was evidently a considerable company of phone's sent 
criminals, of which Paul was reckoned by the Jews as the to Romc * 
greatest, and these were all thrown promiscuously together in the hold 
of the vessel, and the voyage to Rome was begun. This was about sixty 
years after Christ, and probably in the month of September, toward the 
season when storms are most frequent. The voyage was slow on account 


772 All Hope That We Should be Saved was Then Taken Away. 



of the vessel having to make so man}’ landings along the coast, and far 
into October less than two-thirds of the trip had been completed. While 
making a run between Cape Matala and Port Phoenix, along the coast 
of Crete, a typhoon came suddenly down on the vessel from out the 
northeast, and raged with such violence that it was impossible to do more 
than let her scud before the wind. The ship thus drove furiously on to 

the coast of an island named 
Claud a. Here the waves 
wrenched her so that she be- 
gan taking water very rap- 
idly, and the only hope of 
escape seemed now to lie in 
the single small boat that was 
towed behind the ves- 
sel. The cargo was 
thrown overboard, and 
everything done to 
lighten the ship, but, 
while she was kept 
afloat a considerable 
time, the tempest did 
not abate, and day 
after day hope of res- 
cue appeared to grow 
less. In this desperate condition 
SOME ON boards, and some on broken pieces Paul spoke to the captain, bidding 

OF THE SHIP.— Acts 27. 44. 1 

him not fear, for it had been given 
him to know, by an angel messenger, that, while the vessel would be 
lost, all on board would yet be saved. 

On the fourteenth night of the storm, Paul bid the sailors to refresh 
themselves with food, for in their excitement and fear they had eaten 
The shipwreck nothing for several days. They, accordingly, ate the food 
of Paul. that p au ] h a( } blessed, and then prepared to leave the vessel, 
which was now driven upon the ground, where, being held fast, it was 


So it Came to Pass That They Escaped All Safe. 


Ill 



soon broken in pieces. The soldiers now advised the centurion in charge 
to kill all the prisoners, in order that none might escape ; but his desire 
to save Paul prevented him from issuing such 

a cruel order ; ||j|||| \ instead, therefore, he commanded 

every one that lj|||Jj could swim to cast him- 
self into the sea, ijlllll . and that those who 

could not \ BIS] should provide 

themselves ■ ' ^ with something to 


STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. — Heb. n. 13. 

upbear them and make to shore, which they did, and all were saved. 

The crew and passengers of the vessel numbered two hundred 
and seventy-six persons, who distributed themselves about the island 


774 


Publius Lay Sick of a Fever and of a Bloody Flux. 

and sought shelter and food wherever they could find it. The chief 
man on the island was named Publius, who, seeing the disaster, came 
down to the shore and gave such assistance as he was able. He also 
invited Paul to his house, and entertained him three days. It chanced 
that the father of Publius fell ill of a dangerous fever some time before, 
and was near unto death when Paul came into the house. One of the 
first things that Paul did, therefore, after entering the house, was to lay 
his hands on the sufferer, by which gracious act he was immediately 
restored. Paul afterwards healed many of the people that were on the 
island of all manner of sickness, and converted hundreds to Christianity. 

For three months Paul and his companions remained on the island 
before opportunity was offered for them to continue their journey. After 
The last days due time Paul reached Rome, where he was received by 
of Paul. many Christians who had heard of his coming, and through 
whose influence he was permitted to occupy a house to himself under 
nominal guard, but his chains were not removed. Paul made an 
appeal to the Jews of Rome, reciting the wrongs that he had suffered 
from his countrymen at Jerusalem, and so affected his hearers that he was 
asked to preach the doctrine for which he had been so harshly condemned. 

From this date history tells us almost nothing about Paul, and what 
little has been written has as often been contradicted. Some writers 
declare that he preached in Rome for a period of two years and made 
many converts, during which time he lived in a house to himself. It 
appears that he was set free and went again to Jerusalem, after which he 
returned to Rome and was in the city at the time of its partial destruction 
by fires and massacre of Christians. 

Profane history tells us that in the }^ear A.. D. 64, the city of Rome 
was visited by a conflagration greater than any that had ever before raged 
The great 111 ^ le world. For six days the city was a sea of flame, con- 
confiagration suming palace and hovel alike, until six of the fourteen wards 
m Rome. 0 f place, nearly one-half of the city , were entirely 

destroyed. The people were panic-stricken and rushed hither and thither 
in maddening crowds, helpless with fear, and maddened with torture. 
From desperation the people at length grew suspicious that the city had 


Destruction Cometh Upon Them . . . They Shall Not Escape. 775 



been fired by the orders of Nero, who, during the conflagration, repaired 
to the turret of his villa and publicly enacted a drama of his own composing, 
entitled “ The Sack of Troy.” He had fired Rome to lend realism to the 
dreadful tragedy of his theatrical ambition. 

From a suspicion the opinion of the wild masses quickly grew into 
conviction and then came an ominous 
muttering of vengeance, that even ap- 
palled the Emperor who could fiddle 
while his subjects saw their posses- 
sions melting to gratify his thirst for 
the terrible. He saw the cloud of 
wrath gathering and to avert the 
threatening result, he suddenly 
began, with truly theatrical 
transition, to descend from 
his imperious position to 
that of a zealous sympa- 
thizer with the sufferers. 

He went about among his 
people scattering money to 
those in need and apparently 
bewailing the calamity that his 
own orders had precipitated. 

But with all his show of sym- 
pathy suspicion was not wholly eet HIM eschew evie, 

^ J x J AND DO GOOD. -1 Peter 

averted, and he perceived, by 3>I1, 
the portentous complaints that reached his ears, 
that the populace demanded some sacrifice upon 
which to glut their ungovernable rage. 

To save his own degraded life he therefore caused a report to be 
circulated that the city had been fired by the Jews, and that hated new 
sect who called themselves Christians. Here were the victims for Roman 
rage and jealousy, for the Christians had made themselves despised 
because of their piety and rigid precepts, so opposed to the licentiousness 



AS IT IS WRITTEN, 
( 776 ) 


FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; 
SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. — Rom. 8 . 36. 


WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS 



We That Are in This Tabernacle do Groan . 


Ill 


and Paganism of the wicked, crime-loving populace. It mattered not now 
who was the real criminal, since a commission to riot among the Jews 
and Christians had been virtually given by the bloody-minded Emperor. 
Hundreds of these innocent people were at once seized and Torture and 
carried away to the amphitheatre to furnish a spectacle for massacre of 
barbaric eyes. Pillars were set around the race-course to Christians, 
which men, women and children were chained, their lower limbs covered 
with flax dipped in pitch and then set on fire. While these human 
torches were flaming, other victims were brought out into the enclosure 
and hungry Numidian lions turned loose among them. The screams of 
the burning and the cries of terror and torture from those being torn by 
the feasting lions, while flashing lights from the numerous pillars, through 
clouds of boiling smoke and heavy odors of pitch and burning flesh, 
constituted a spectacle so horrible that we recoil with a sense of oppres- 
sion and heart sickness at the very mention of such deeds of fiendish 
depravity and man’s inhumanity. In this dreadful riot and holocaust 
Paul is said to have perished, but whether he was burned, decapitated, 
fed to the lions or crucified, is not recorded. Peter, however, who must 
have returned to Rome with Paul, on his second visit, fell a victim to the 
Roman fury, and is said to have been crucified head downwards, as were 
many others during that awful riot of merciless massacre. The close of 
Paul’s life was thus more terribly dramatic than his labors had been 
eventful, but it was typical of such Christian faith and fortitude as makes 
the whole world at once pity and applaud: pity, that so noble a life should 
be so ill requited; and applaud, that he could so fearlessly face the mob, 
flames and executioner, and go to his doom crowned with the glory that 
awaits those faithful unto death. 

The last book in the Bible, called Revelation, is the greatest enigma 
in the Holy Scriptures, and bears distinctly the sign of divine mystery.. 
The writer was St. John, but probably not the “ beloved visions of 
disciple” of Jesus, though certainly' an apostle. Under the st.john. 
reign of Nero, John was exiled to the lonely island of Patmos for preach- 
ing the doctrine of the resurrection, where he was treated with the utmost 
barbarity. But though John was made to delve in the mines, he found 



( 778 ) 


THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 




Who is Worthy to Open the Book , and to Loose the Seals f 779 



opportunity to write a description of many visions glorious to behold, 
which he saw through the inspiration given him by Jesus. These visions 
comprehended all that is in heaven, on earth and in the abode of per- 
petual darkness. He saw an an- ,, mrr . 

gelic host surrounding the great 
throne, and the perfect 
triumph of Christ in 
the hosannas of eternal 
praise that were sung 
by redeemed saints. A 
vision of the judgment 
day was also given him 
to see, when the dead 
rose out of their graves 
and assembled before 
God to be judged accord- 
ing to their deeds. An 
angel appeared to him 
also, and taking him to 
the pinnacle of a moun- 
tain showed him a vision 
of the New Jerusalem, 
around which was a great 
wall with strong towers, and 
pierced by twelve gates, at | 
each of which an angel 
stood guard. This city was 
built of pure gold, the walls 
were of precious stones, and 
the gates were of pearl. Over 
this beautiful city the mantle 
of night was never spread, but the light from God bathed its holy streets 
forever. This was the city of heavenly delight, the home for which 
every godlv heart is longing, the empire of peace and love. 




I FEEL DOWN TO WORSHIP BEFORE THE FEET OF THE 
ANGEE WHICH SHEWED ME THESE THINGS Rev. 22. 8. 



















































































































. 



















■ V " 

, 

. * • 

■ ; > 

^ * 


V 










*.». 

> • A 






























r • 

jt + ; ' T - 

.* r* * 

... 

x. - 

• • 

* £ 












































■ ' 

J . ‘ , 

,*i * V : •* 

t ' ^ ' ■ 

■ - • 














- ■« 
/v 
*, - 










■ * 

- 


- " ' ■ , 
* 4 - 






T :> 

> .' 

t • «.■ • • r 










































































































































































































■ 

































































































- 


































































































































- 


















































* 






. 

. 


























































































































































































I 




































*■ 








































































































































































































ff 0 


















1 






